Staff Profile

As Head of School Operations, my role is to lead and manage the Professional Services function within the School and lead the interface between business partners within the Faculty, the wider University and external organisations.

Natural and Environmental Sciences (SNES) is the third largest School at Newcastle, hosting some 320 staff, 450 post-graduate students, 1750 taught students and has a turnover of c.£47m. The School is split over five sites: Central campus (where the School is lead occupant in five buildings), two farms (totalling 2000 acres) and two marine units (including a research vessel). We have 30 programmes and around 300 modules.

I lead and contribute to the School's strategic and operational planning process and implementation plan, in support of the University and Faculty's vision. The vision and strategy sets out an ambitious and exciting journey, to be a people-focused, world leading university that harnesses academic excellence, innovation and creativity to advance knowledge and provide benefits to individuals, organisations and society as a whole.

I am member of the SAgE Faculty Professional Services Leadership Group (PSLG). I have also been elected by Senate to serve as a member of the Northumbria Universities Military Education Committee (2020 - 2023). I was a Board Trustee of the Biddick Academy Trust between 2022 and 2024. I joined Newcastle University and the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences in December 2018, from the University of Oxford.

Career History:

2021 - Present: Head of School Operations, Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University.

2018 - 2021: Operations Manager and Deputy School Manager, Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University.

2016 - 2018: Head of Operations, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford.

2015 - 2016: Chief of Staff to Rt Hon Anna Soubry MP, then Minister of State for Small Business.

2012 - 2015: Royal Naval Reserve, Logistics Officer (alongside University).

2006 - 2012: Royal Navy, Rating (various roles including HR and Finance Administration, Assistant Policy Officer & Crisis Management Officer).