Tim Burnett is the founder of the Test Community Network. He shares his career journey, from industrial design and teaching to large-scale assessment, with a particular focus on technology implementation and AI adoption in the assessment sector.
Following his graduation from Loughborough University with a degree in Industrial Design and Technology with Education and Qualified Teacher Certification, he worked for more than five years as Web Manager at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, UK. Tim then moved to BTL (now Surpass Assessment), where he spent more than 15 years in various roles, including Program Manager, Business Development Manager, and Head of Marketing.
It was at BTL that he was first exposed to large-scale assessment through teacher skills tests and ICT simulations developed for the Teacher Development Agency (TDA). His responsibilities included test content creation, project management, and collaboration with subject matter experts (SMEs) and psychometricians. Surpass was a leading innovator in the digital examination management and delivery sector.
During his tenure, Tim built a small but skilled team that enabled the delivery of a wide range of global marketing campaigns through an effective mix of website content, social media, podcasts, conferences, and webinars.
Describing his role, Tim stated: “As a passionate educational technologist, I take an active role in the learning and assessment community, bringing my experiences back to the management team to influence our strategy, tactics, and innovation in the products and services we provide. I’m proud of the community we have built, the relationships we’ve formed, and the positive difference we are making to assessment, education, and society.”
Tim shares how he applied educational technology to sailing instruction, including creating a beginner’s sailing video guide that has attracted over a million views on YouTube. He explains that his practical approach to AI began through hands-on experience with ChatGPT and other generative AI tools, building on a foundation in automation and system integration developed during his marketing management career.
For the past five years, Tim has worked as a self-employed consultant. In 2023, he founded the Test Community Network . He describes the Network as “the global intelligence engine for the assessment industry, a dedicated marketplace where assessment professionals can discover products, share content, find events, and engage with podcasts from across the worldwide learning and assessment community. What makes us different? We’re not just another platform. We’re the connective tissue that brings together assessment technology providers, awarding organizations, psychometricians, educators, and industry thought leaders. Whether you’re looking for the latest assessment innovations, seeking peer insights on emerging challenges, or wanting to share your expertise, the Test Community Network is where the global assessment community comes together.”
Through the Test Community Network, Tim provides a 37-step playbook for organizational AI adoption and has been working with UK awarding bodies to support the implementation of AI initiatives. The AI Adoption Playbook guides leadership teams through a structured implementation framework designed specifically for the assessment sector, and is built around five pillars:
- People: Creating cross-functional teams that break down silos and enable the safe governance and piloting of AI.
- Education: Delivering AI literacy and awareness training so that staff share a common understanding of AI and its potential benefits.
- Governance: Establishing clear, role-specific policies that make ethical AI use second nature across the organization.
- Data: Securing a GDPR-compliant data foundation to ensure that AI models deliver accurate, reliable value.
- AI Roadmap: Developing a living strategic document that maps out the organization’s rollout from pilot to full-scale implementation.
Regarding AI, Tim’s belief is simple: “AI will change everything, but it will also amplify the importance of being human.”
Tim believes that large-scale, summative assessments have an important role to play, provided they are valid, reliable, fair, proportionate, and appropriate to their purpose. While he recognizes the benefits of summative assessments, he is particularly supportive of using assessment for formative and diagnostic purposes. Regarding large-scale assessment solutions, Tim is aware of Vretta through his professional networks and conference participation, and is impressed by the company’s innovative approaches and the platform’s use of well-regarded technology-enhanced items and assessment tools.
Tim has worked with the BBC and Channel 4, chaired the e-Assessment Association, founded the Test Community Network, and authored the AI Adoption Playbook. Through his consultancy, he has helped leadership teams across the UK and internationally develop AI roadmaps, train their people, and deploy practical AI solutions.
Currently, he serves as the UK Conference Ambassador for the International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA) 2026 Annual Conference in Toronto. Information is available on the conference website: https://www.eqao.com/iaea-annual-conference/.
Above all his accomplishments, Tim takes pride in always being available to provide information, advice, and support to anyone in the assessment and AI communities, particularly those new to the field.
As an independent consultant with a young family, Tim has limited time for activities outside of his professional responsibilities. He enjoys the outdoors and looks forward to eventually returning to his former pursuits of sailing, hiking, and mountaineering. Please feel free to reach out to Tim at: tim@educationtech.consulting.
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