Polly Hickling

Education Vice President, 2025-2026

Working in academia since 2009, Polly has dedicated over 13 years to delivering Media Technology graduates to the industry as the course leader for Solent University’s Media Technology programme. In this role, she led multiple curriculum redesigns, collaborating closely with industry partners to align educational outcomes with technical demands and higher education pedagogy. This industry engagement facilitated numerous student opportunities and achieved a 100% employment rate for several course titles within the programme.

In recent years, Polly has concentrated on enhancing the educational pipeline, diversity, and inclusivity. She has served on boards for several organizations, including SMPTE as Education Director and a UK Manager. Within SMPTE UK, Polly has worked extensively on meetings and events, including initiatives like SMPTE Young Innovators, to engage and inspire the next generation of media technologists. She is also a Trustee for the RISE Academy, working particularly on the Summer School program to provide vital opportunities and support for young people entering the industry.

Since September 2022, Polly has been the Learning and Development Lead for Media at Eviden, addressing knowledge and skills gaps within the industry. She is developing accessible learning strategies that integrate the expertise required for technology transformation project delivery. Polly now has a keen interest in creating accessible content for people at any stage of their career, ensuring inclusivity and engagement across diverse learner groups.

Polly’s ambition is to use education as a driving force for innovation, shaping the future of media technology by equipping learners with the skills to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing industry.

Polly’s academic background includes a Master of Science in Mobile Media Application Development from the University of Portsmouth and a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching for Higher Education from Solent University. Her research interests encompass e-learning, particularly the use of video and mobile applications for online and distance learning.

Polly’s dedication to education, diversity, and collaboration continues to make a significant impact on the media technology landscape.