I started my adult nursing career in 1995 and later qualified as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, practising in the Health Visiting field. I have been working in higher education since 2008, joining Northumbria University in 2015.
Here at Northumbria University I have contributed to a range of provision in the Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, including successful programme leadership commended by the NMC for innovation and quality.
Between January 2020 and July 2021 I was Director of Access and Participation for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences., where I led and collaborated on a range of faculty and university wide projects to improve access, participation and outcomes for under-represented students. In this role I developed key partnerships with internal and external stakeholders in the region (NERAP) and nationally (BECOME) which I continue to grow in order to develop my teaching, research and knowledge exchange impact.
I have used my extensive professional and academic expertise as a platform to grow as a leader. Between July 2021 and September 2022, I successfully held the role of Head of Subject, Department of Social Work, Education and Community Well-being resulting in being asked to act as Interim Deputy Head of Department in October 2022. In November 2023 I was appointed as Interim Dean of Apprentices, a role that aligns well with my passion for vocational and experiential learning.
My strategic academic leadership extends beyond the university in prestigious roles as an appointed member of the Strategic Advisory Group for Teaching and Learning with Advance HE (since 2021) and member of the Council of Deans Strategic Policy Group for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (since 2022), where my extensive professional and academic experience contribute to the development of policy at national and international level.
My promotion to Associate Professor in July 2022 underlines my commitment and impact in the university, my discipline (nursing) and in promoting excellence in higher education and good standing in educational research.
Recognition as Principal Fellow of Advance HE acknowledges my distinguishable contribution and achievement of significance influence and enhancement of teaching and learning in higher education.
My research interests bring the two strands of my professional life together, The first strand of my work focuses on the implementation of new approaches to support the education and training of the breastfeeding workforce. My work is embedded in UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative Training and widely used across the NHS and Local Authorities by midwives, health visitors and other practitioners who support breastfeeding.
The second strand is focused on understanding and addressing educational inequality and improving access to higher education, particularly for care experienced students.
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