Our Team
Behind everything we do is a passionate team committed to creating meaningful impact through STEM, education, skills development, and community engagement.
We bring together experience from education, industry, outreach, business development, and community partnership working to help inspire learners, support educators, and strengthen connections between education and the future workforce.
At Synergy STEM Partners, collaboration is at the heart of our approach. We believe in building positive relationships, working inclusively, and creating opportunities that empower individuals and communities to thrive.
Our team is driven by a shared vision:
to inspire future generations, support lifelong learning, and make STEM opportunities more accessible, engaging, and impactful for all.
Whether we are delivering STEM outreach programmes, developing partnerships, supporting employability initiatives, or working alongside schools and community organisations, we are united by a commitment to innovation, inclusion, and social impact.
Colette Affaya is an experienced STEM education leader, community engagement specialist, and business development professional with over 10 years of experience building impactful partnerships between education, industry, and communities.
As Founder and CEO of Synergy STEM Partners and Director of Synergy STEM CIC, Colette is passionate about empowering learners, supporting educators, and creating innovative programmes that inspire future talent, strengthen workforce development, and improve access to opportunities through STEM education and skills development.
Her professional background spans strategic leadership, STEM outreach, curriculum development, employability initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and community-focused programme delivery. During her time at Airbus, Colette played a key role in developing and delivering large-scale STEM engagement strategies and outreach programmes, working collaboratively with schools, colleges, educators, industry leaders, and public sector organisations to strengthen education-industry connections and raise aspirations among young people.
Colette also brings experience across education, student support, and community engagement, including work with Coleg Cambria and leadership within early years provision. She is recognised for her ability to build meaningful partnerships, translate complex ideas into practical solutions, and deliver initiatives that create measurable social and educational impact.
Her contributions to education and partnership working were recognised through the Outstanding Personal Contribution Award at the Careers Wales #SchoolValuedPartners event at the Senedd.
She holds a PgCTL Level 6 qualification in Teaching and Learning, alongside qualifications in business administration and SEND, and has completed training in mental health awareness, safeguarding, mentoring, and learner support.
In addition to her professional work, Colette is also the author of Arkam, Numero and Numbers, reflecting her passion for creativity, learning, and inspiring young minds through education.
Driven by a strong commitment to community impact, innovation, and lifelong learning, Colette continues to champion initiatives that connect education, employability, STEM, and social value to help individuals and communities thrive.
Colette Affaya
Founder & Managing Director
Otman Affaya is an experienced STEM educator, leader, and curriculum innovator with over 23 years of global teaching experience. As a Director at Synergy STEM Partners, Otman is committed to bridging the gap between education and industry by developing dynamic STEM programmes that equip students with the skills needed for future careers.
His extensive international teaching background spans the USA, Kazakhstan, and Dubai, where he has taught Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, Environmental Science, Earth-Space Science, and Mathematics. Otman has held leadership roles, including Head of AP Physics & Environmental Science at GEMS United School in Dubai, Head Physics Teacher for the IB Programme at Victoria International School, and Team Leader at Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Kazakhstan. His experience designing and delivering diverse curricula—including A-Level, IB, AP, and Cambridge International—demonstrates his ability to integrate global best practices into STEM education.
Beyond the classroom, Otman has a strong track record in curriculum development, student mentorship, and technology integration. He is passionate about making STEM education accessible and engaging by using hands-on learning, digital tools, and real-world applications. His multilingual skills (English, French, Arabic, and conversational Spanish) further enable him to connect with diverse learners and professionals.
Otman’s leadership at Synergy STEM Partners focuses on creating meaningful opportunities for students, fostering industry collaborations, and driving innovation in STEM education.
Otman Affaya
Curriculum Development & Training
With a background in education, administration and client-facing environments, Alisa brings excellent communication, organisational and relationship-building skills to the recruitment process. She is passionate about connecting talented individuals with meaningful career opportunities and supporting organisations in identifying professionals who can make a positive impact.
Alisa’s experience working with individuals from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds enables her to build strong relationships with both candidates and employers. She plays an important role in supporting the recruitment process, from engaging with candidates to helping ensure that each placement is aligned with the needs of both the organisation and the individual.
Before joining Synergy STEM Recruitment, Alisa worked in education and business support roles, including providing administrative and coordination support to client-serving teams at McKinsey & Company, one of the world’s leading global consulting firms. This experience strengthened her ability to work in fast-paced professional environments and support high-performing teams.
Alisa holds a Master’s degree in English Philology and is fluent in English, Russian and Polish, allowing her to communicate effectively with professionals from a wide range of backgrounds.
She is also currently training in Strategic Intervention Life Coaching, reflecting her strong interest in personal growth, career development and supporting individuals in achieving their full potential.