- Rob B -Managing Director

Back in 2013 Rob was the Project Manager for the client that Cleversteam partnered with to develop the first ever version of Hanover. Having then spent 8 years using Hanover as a manager and company director he joined the Hanover team in 2021 to oversee our company strategy and help us take the next step in our evolution. Rob has worked in cultural exchange businesses in Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Canada, and is a firm believer in the power ot technology to accelerate a business. Being a father of two very active boys feels like a full time 'hobby' away from work, but whenever he gets some free time you'll find him competing in running events, on the golf course or tinkering with different ways to make the perfect coffee.

- Aly B -Product Owner

Aly first used Hanover CRM in 2018 as an Account Manager for a Canadian cultural exchange organisation. Following this, she worked as a technology consultant advising large enterprises on implementing and optimizing CRM systems. She enjoys helping organisations streamline their operations and business processes. In her role as Product Owner, she is responsible for defining the vision and strategy for Hanover CRM.
Aly's love of international exchange extends beyond working for Hanover, she spent five summers in Canada as a camp counsellor on a cultural exchange program and met her husband at camp! Outside of work, she enjoys camping, hiking, cooking and spending time with her one-eyed pug-shih tzu.

- Bastian W -Board Chair

Bastian has extensive experience in leading and shaping International Exchange organisations. Bastian was the CEO of Smaller Earth Group for nearly a decade, steering it into becoming one of the largest global recruitment companies for international exchange participants, and Bastian also served for a number of years on industry panels for the Cultural Exchange sector. As the chair of our board, Bastian is responsible for helping us shaping our vision into a reality, maintaining key strategic relationships and ensuring effective governance. Outside of work you will find Bastian competing in all manor of long distance endurance events and spending time with his family in the countryside.

- Steve S -Fractional CTO

Back in 2016, Steve co-founded Airbyte, where he spent over three years helping companies build software products—from minimum viable solutions for startups to fully developed platforms for global brands. Airbyte then joined Wildgoose, a global team-building company, where Steve served as Chief Technology Officer and Chief Product Officer, spearheading product development, tech team scaling, and innovation strategy.
Today, Steve is helping shape the next stage of Hanover CRM to maintain its position as a tech leader in the industry.
Outside of work, he loves traveling, spending time by the ocean and practicing martial arts!

- Becky E -Community Manager

Becky’s journey with Hanover began in 2016 during her time working for a culture exchange organisation. She has spent serval summers at summer camp in the US and Canada, which gave her a love for travel and emerging in new cultures which lead to her recently embarking on adventures across Australia and Japan - from these experience Becky has extensive experience both as a participant and administrator using Hanover. Becky is passionate about her work and thrives of being able to deliver a positive and productive customer experience and is dedicated to the cause. Outside of work when she isn’t off traveling the world, Becky enjoys spending time in the outdoors: from hiking, walking her dog to running. When not outside enjoying the British weather, you can find her in the gym or baking up some sweet treats!

- Jon O -Operations Manager

Jon used the first ever version of Hanover in 2014 during his time on the support team for a cultural exchange organisation. Jon's experience with cultural exchange started in 2008 having spent a number of summers working in the US at a summer camp on the J1 visa. This experience led Jon to complete his masters degree in Ohio on an F1 visa on a soccer scholarship. Jon has travelled extensively and his passion for cultural exchange brought him back to the industry in 2023 when he joined the Hanover team. As the Operations Manager, Jon oversees all our day-to-day operations, and capacity planning and ensures successful delivery of all Hanover projects. In his spare time, Jon likes to travel and enjoys staying active. He likes running, and CrossFit and has recently taken up Hyrox.

- Guy R -Head of Quality Assurance

Guy has been a part of the international travel industry since 2011 and has 6 years experience of using Hanover as a Program Manager during his employment with a cultural exchange business. This experience allows him to bring a wealth of perspective as an Admin and Participant to his role and shapes how we assure Hanover performs as best as possible. Since moving into the role of Quality Assurance Lead in 2022, Guy has relished in improving our systems and ensuring that they meet the needs of the end user, you. He's brought experience across numerous roles and is shaping how Cleversteam thinks about quality.
In his spare time, Guy loves to get outside and explore his new home of New Zealand and his new love of ocean swimming.

- Adam G -Partnerships Manager

With over 8 years of experience in the Cultural Exchange industry, Adam's connection to the field began with two transformative years in the USA as a soccer coach on a J1 visa program. In his current role as Partnerships Manager, he is instrumental in building strategic relationships that drive mutual success for Hanover and its partners. Adam’s ability to translate complex technical concepts into practical, actionable solutions has earned him a reputation as a bridge between technology and real-world application, making him a go-to expert for clients navigating the digital landscape.
Outside of his professional life, Adam is an outdoor enthusiast. Whether carving through mountain slopes on a board or catching waves in the ocean, he’s always in pursuit of his next adventure.

- Steven C - Tech Lead

Steven, a former PhD candidate in solid state physics, has spent the first decade of his career building tech solutions to support the third sector. His dedication led him to present at the United Nations, where he showcased his distributed database designed for Mine Action Impact in third-world countries with very low connectivity. While creating a logistics platform, Steven discovered Ruby on Rails and has been passionate about it ever since. Since joining Hanover in 2016, he has leveraged his expertise as a tech lead, driving innovation and excellence in all his projects.Outside of work, Steven enjoys a vibrant home life with his two dogs, chickens, and a cat. He spends his free time cooking delicious meals and tending to his garden.

- Ben L - UX Lead

Ben joined the Hanover development team in 2017 after graduating from Edge Hill University. As a developer he has contributed robust code to many areas of Hanover CRM, gaining valuable knowledge and insight of the international exchange industry along the way. In 2023, after almost 7 years, Ben decided he wanted to shift his focus onto the design of Hanover CRM and strive to improve the user experience of cultural exchange management.Since 2015, Ben has devoted countless hours volunteering in worldwide Scouting, with a special interest in using technology to connect Scouts and Guides from all over the world.Ben has a passion for music and is rarely without a song. He is currently learning the piano. Ben also enjoys gaming, cooking, and driving.

- Mirek S - Tech Lead

Mirek has been a dedicated software professional since 2012, with a robust background in both new and existing projects across various domains. With experience in delivering mission-critical solutions to the healthcare industry, Mirek brings extensive experience in delivering software solutions that prioritise quality and reliability.With a passion for developing high-quality software, Mirek thrives in small, agile teams where collaboration and innovation are key. As a Tech Lead, Mirek oversees multiple codebases, ensuring that our customers receive top-notch support and cutting-edge solutions.

- Lucas B - Developer

Lucas is a dedicated Ruby on Rails developer who has been a valuable member of the team since early 2023. He specialises in projects that enhance the functionality of Hanover CRM, contributing to a service that enables people to gain exceptional experiences. Lucas is passionate about his work and enjoys collaborating with an amazing team. Despite starting his coding journey just two years ago, he has made significant strides in a short period, continuously expanding his skills and knowledge. Outside of work, Lucas enjoys watching football, drinking coffee, reading books, and has a love for animals (mainly Poodles).

- Will L - Developer

Will joined Hanover CRM in 2024. He has been a Ruby developer for over 6 years and brings a wealth of experience to the team. He started his programming career working for a UK cloud services provider and has since moved to work for international exchange agencies. He enjoys working on more complex tickets and has a real eye for detail - nothing gets passed Will!Will is an active individual, in his free time, enjoys climbing, cycling and running (when not injured from said hobbies). Coming from the South West, Will is an avid Bath Rugby supporter.

- Irina S - Developer

Irina is a passionate software engineer with experience in Ruby, Python, and JavaScript, and a keen interest in algorithms and problem-solving. She enjoys taking on challenges, is dedicated to continuous self-improvement, and strives for perfection in her work. Irina always puts users first, constantly seeking ways to enhance their experience and make them happy. Her professional experience includes working in fast-paced startups and e-commerce companies. Before transitioning into software engineering, she worked as an SEO manager for notable companies such as Samsung, B&Q, Screwfix, and New Look. In her free time, Irina loves traveling, hiking, and reading.

- Ivan B - Developer

Ivan is a Ruby Developer with over 4 years of experience. Ivan loves the continuous learning aspect of coding. He believes "If you haven't learned something new, you stand still." Ivan is a very dedicated developer and an integral part of the Hanover CRM Team, he is always willing to help with any issue and delivers innovative solutions, often going above and beyond - thinking outside the box for more sustainable solutions. He is constantly smiling and has an infectious positive energy. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports, reading books and walking with his wife and friends.

- Vikki S - Developer

While Vikki was completing her masters degree she started working as a Data Analyst, but she was not impressed with monotonous work. In early 2019 Vikki’s friend suggested that she try Ruby on Rails as a trainee, and she fell in love with it. In 2022 she joined Hanover CRM.Since joining a Hanover CRM she has had the opportunity to experience many different programming tools she had never used before. The thing Vikki likes most about her job is learning new skills, and developing new features that benefit our end-users.Outside of work, Vikki enjoys her life with her husband and two noisy cats. In her free time she likes reading books, gaming and meeting her friends. She has a passion for cooking and testing new recipes.

- Alex S - Developer

Alex was always around IT and Tech things. Before becoming a Developer, he worked as a Service Engineer. After graduating from school, he started at University, and it was there he started to learn programming. In 2015 he was lucky to join a start-up where he experienced Ruby on Rails for the first time. After 4 years at the start-up, he decided to try other professions, but nothing was as fun as coding. In 2022 Alex joined Hanover CRM.He is passionate about the processes we follow at Hanover, about his team and how people cope with every day challenges.Alex often describes working for Hanover as "being able to feel a magical team spirit!"Outside of work Alex's hobbies include car racing, repairing things, circuit design and table football.

- Roman N - Developer

Roman started to use Ruby in 2014 and is a proficient and knowledgeable Developer. Roman considers Ruby to be the most flexible and powerful tool for development. Before working for Hanover CRM in 2022, Roman had the opportunity to develop other CRM and BI systems and has many transferable skills and experiences. Roman enjoys collaborating with other developers in the team to share ideas and solutions. Roman strives for perfection and shines when working on implementing complicated structures and delivering on trickier projects - seeing them in action is rewarding! In his free time, Roman likes to read books - not just about coding :)

- Dmytro K - Developer

With over seven years of experience as a Ruby Developer, Dmytro brings deep expertise in building robust and efficient software solutions. After completing his Master’s degree in Engineering, he began his career as a Ruby Developer, refining his skills across various projects. In 2024, he joined CleverSteam, excited to contribute his technical knowledge and collaborate with the team.
Living in Scotland, Dmytro enjoys an active lifestyle. Outside of work, his hobbies include traveling, hiking, cycling, boxing, and fitness. He is also an avid reader with a love for the works of Dostoevsky and Hugo, and enjoys playing video games during his downtime.