Marama Millar

Head of Education Strategy

Marama is a registered dental nurse and has over 20 years of experience in the dental industry, having undergone initial training in New Zealand before relocating to England in 2004. On arriving in London, she started working as a dental nurse at a private clinic on Wimpole Street. Throughout this period, her enthusiasm for education led her to pursue studies in science with the Open University. Motivated by a dedication to personal and professional growth, Marama established the Dental Nurse Network in April 2010. In addition to her substantial experience, she holds qualifications in education and business, and she is soon commencing a Master’s degree in Education Leadership.

During her downtime, Marama enjoys motherhood, music (including singing and playing the guitar and ukulele), and getting her hands dirty in the garden.

Stephanie Carter

Head of Education and Quality Assurance

Stephanie is a registered dental nurse, hygienist and therapist who has worked in dentistry for over 20 years. She joined Dental Nurse Network in 2016. She has recently completed a Level 7 Qualification in Leadership and Management. She also has a Level 5 Diploma in Education and a Level 4 Diploma in Quality Assurance. She is also a member of the Edinburgh Faculty of Dental Trainers. Stephanie plays a vital role in our course development and quality assurance, ensuring all our courses are of a high standard and meet the needs of all our students.

When not working, Stephanie enjoys taking long walks with her dog (Diesel) and swimming.

Melanie Pomphrett

Head of Oral Health Education Development

Melanie, a registered dental hygienist with nearly 15 years of experience in dentistry, joined Dental Nurse Network in 2015. She holds a Master's degree in Professional Dental Practice, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, an Advanced Diploma in Dental Nursing and a Foundation Degree of Science in Oral Health Science. At Dental Nurse Network, Melanie specialises in teaching various courses within our Oral Health Education sector. In 2018, she was honoured with the Phillips 'Shine on' award, acknowledging her commitment to career development and success.

During her downtime, Melanie enjoys keeping fit, trying out new recipes, and chilling out with her two cats, Winnie and Jasper.

Hilary Urry

Head of Assessment and Student Support

Hilary, a registered dental nurse with over 30 years of experience in dentistry, joined Dental Nurse Network in 2019. She holds a Foundation Degree in Advanced Dental Nursing, a Level 3 Certificate in Education and Training, and a Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement. Hilary is dedicated to providing exceptional support to our students, drawing from her own experience as a former student at Dental Nurse Network. Known as the mother figure within the organisation, Hilary's caring nature shines through in her role, supported by her qualification as a Mental Health Lead. She prioritises ensuring that our students receive the highest level of support throughout their courses, contributing significantly to our high success rate.

During her downtime, Hilary enjoys yoga/pilates/Tai Chi, walking on her treadmill, colouring, spending time with her grandchildren and watching the birds and squirrels in her garden.

Emma Leather

Assessor and Student Support

Emma, a registered dental nurse with 18 years of dentistry experience, joined Dental Nurse Network in 2016. Having initially started as a student with us, Emma's familiarity with our organisation stood out when she applied to join our team. She holds a Level 7 Diploma in Leadership & Management, a Level 4 National Certificate in Internal Quality Assurance, a Level 3 Award in Education and Training, and a Level 3 Assessor Qualification. Working alongside Hilary, Emma plays a crucial role in marking our students' assessments and ensuring they receive optimal support throughout their journey with us.

During her downtime, Emma enjoys spending time with her daughter, friends and family, going for long walks, swimming, visiting the theatre and reading.

Tracy Sant

Assessor

Tracey joined the Dental Nurse Network in June 2024 and is a tutor and assessor across a number of our courses, from the NEBDN National Diploma in Dental Nursing through to our Level 3 qualifications. She brings over 30 years of dental experience to the team, including 14 years as a practice manager, where she thrived in leadership and enjoyed mentoring colleagues through their career progression. That experience shapes the way she supports learners now, guiding them through their qualifications and assessments. Outside of work, Tracey enjoys staying active with Pilates and walking, and spending time with her husband, family and friends.

Jo Layden

Assessor

Jo works as an assessor across many of our courses, including the NEBDN National Diploma, NEBDN Fluoride varnish and our Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications. With over 20 years of experience in dentistry, she is a qualified and highly experienced assessor who is passionate about supporting learners to succeed and grow in their careers. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family, going for long walks and catching up with friends, and there is nothing she likes more than winding down at the end of the day with a good book.

Helen Capell

Assessor

Helen is an assessor on our oral health education team. She has been a dental nurse for over 20 years and is a qualified oral health educator and assessor, so she knows first hand what learners are working through as they build their evidence. Alongside her work with the Dental Nurse Network, Helen works in a dental surgery in Winchester two and a half days a week. In her spare time she is a busy mum to two boys, and she enjoys socialising with friends, running, walking and being outdoors. She also loves watching her son play football, where she is the loud, cheerful mum on the sidelines.

Stefan Booyens

Assessor

Stefan has been with DNN for three years and is an assessor across many of our courses. He is a registered dental nurse and qualified assessor with nearly 10 years of experience. He studied with the Dental Nurse Network before joining the team as an assessor. Outside of work, Stefan is a proud dad to his 15 year old and a musician.

Pauline Ballesteros

Administrator

Pauline keeps everything at the Dental Nurse Network running behind the scenes, from learner enquiries and progress updates to the paperwork that keeps courses moving, and she types at an impressive 90 words per minute. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her three dogs.

Abbi Castle

Speaker

Abbi is a registered dental nurse and educator for Dental Nurse Network.