I'm Victoria Jones, a writer, researcher and facilitator based in the North East of England. My work has taken an unconventional route through academic research, museums and libraries, technology, organisational development, adult education and community work.

Under the surface, there is a consistent thread. I love getting to grips with complicated questions, bringing together evidence and different perspectives, and helping people think, learn and talk about things. I love work that helps us live better, and contributes to how we understand ourselves as humans.

I began my career in academic research. I studied History of Art at Cambridge and completed a PhD at the University of Leeds, researching questions around visual culture, identity and power. Research and writing have remained important to me ever since, and I apply a thorough, evidence-based and ethical approach to everything I do.

My early work in customer service, both in remote technical support roles and in public libraries, was part of my commitment to and instinct for helping people. And much of my later career has been concerned with how people learn and work together. At Automattic, I worked across leadership development, learning design, facilitation, organisational development and inclusion. I designed and delivered leadership programmes, facilitated workshops and retrospectives for international teams, coached leaders, evaluated learning initiatives and helped develop communities of practice. I became particularly interested in the connections between research, organisational culture and human behaviour, and became motivated to deepen our understanding of what makes healthy and fulfilling workplaces.

My working life is quite varied at the moment: I work as a library assistant in a public library service, teach in adult education, and contribute to training drawing on lived experience of autism. Libraries, classrooms and community spaces keep me engaged in my local community, helping people find information, access culture, and learn about inclusive practice.

Credentials

My work draws on formal study across the humanities, information, language, education and organisational development.

• PhD in History of Art, University of Leeds
• MA Hons (Cantab), University of Cambridge (2:1 - Anglo-Saxon, Norse & Celtic Part I, History of Art Part II)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Information & Library Management (with distinction)
• CIOL Level 7 Diploma in Translation (French–English)
• RSA CELTA / Level 5 Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults
• CMI Level 7 Award in Strategic Approaches to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
• CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning and Development (in progress)
  • Passed modules are:
    • Work and working lives
    • People Management
    • Designing learning to improve performance
    • Wellbeing at work
    • Leadership and management development in context
• Oliver McGowan Tier 2 Autism Co-Trainer

For a fuller profile and details about my other credentials, experience and volunteering, connect with me over LinkedIn here.

→ My publications and other writing