Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom
Experienced academic leader, educator and researcher with a lifelong passion for the transformative power of education. Initially teaching mathematics in large mixed comprehensive schools, with then over 30 years of working across a variety of full-time higher education roles, including eight years within University Leadership Teams, latterly as Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education at Bournemouth University. I have significant board level experience across a variety of organisations, and am currently a trustee, (for Dorset Mental Health Forum), and a Board Member for an FE College (Coastland College). I am also very comfortable moving into roles and having immediate impacts, and I am currently in an interim leadership role at Roehampton University. I’m also an experienced researcher, with a continuity of output throughout my academic career, having been included research assessment exercises in 2001, 2008 and REF 2014, with papers in REF 2021, and impact cases in both REF 2014 and the REF 2021 submission. My research interests cover software engineering, the relationship between business and software models, applications of AI, and, in recent years, social computing, which encompasses digital addiction and on-line gambling.
Member of the Board of Coastland College, which was formed from the merger of Weymouth College and Kingston Maurward College, and now operates across two stunning Dorset Campuses.
• I have remained an active researcher throughout my career in Higher Education, alongside significant educational responsibilities, and leadership roles, including Head of Department, Executive Dean and Pro Vice-Chancellor positions. I was made a full Professor at Bournemouth University in 2011 and have been a visiting Professor at Bournemouth since leaving at the end of July 2025. Some of my research achievements have included: • Gaining income, through successful RKE bidding, of over £7.2 million. • Research in a breadth of subjects covering software engineering, natural computing (applications of AI), and social computing; with over 250 refereed outputs and over 4800 citations (Google Scholar). • Inclusion in every research assessment exercise since 2001, including 2008 and REF 2014 with personal outputs and impact cases submitted for both REF 2014 and REF 2021. • Supervising, as first supervisor, nineteen PhDs to completion, with numerous as second supervisor. • Examination of 24 PhDs and 2 MPhils across a variety of institutions, including: Birmingham University, Brighton, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Leeds Met, Loughborough, University of Malaya, Middlesex, Open University, Plymouth, Southampton and UTS Sydney. • Carrying out work of demonstrable impact, one of our three impact cases for the joint General Engineering submission for REF 2014, and part of the impact case team for the digital addiction and gambling mitigation case studies for REF 2021 in two units of assessment.
Responsible for research and knowledge exchange, including REF and KEF strategy and oversight of research development support and doctoral college. We have already seen significant improvements in bidding and awarded income and are proud that BU has produced five nature papers in the last twelve months, as well as having gained Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences in the Times Higher Education awards (Nov 2024).
Responsibilities included line management of Executive Deans of faculties, and oversight of a range of professional services including admissions, academic operations, registry, academic quality, educational development, and apprenticeships and skills. Led our successful APP submission, growth of apprenticeships, where our related improvements in quality also led to our being assessed (July 2024), as outstanding in all areas, and have led review of our portfolio.
As an Associate Non Exec Director (NED), worked collaboratively with other NEDs to provide governance and oversight.