Real Projects. Tangible Impact. Trusted Expertise

I have contributed to a wide range of institutional, sector, and international initiatives. These projects span my senior leadership experience as well as my work in consultancy, research, and sector engagement. Below is a selection of projects that demonstrate the breadth and impact of my work.

National TALENT Policy Commission (Technical Skills, Roles and Careers in UK Higher Education and Research)

Client: UKRI / Midlands Innovation

Challenge: To address the lack of strategic insight, data, and policy attention on the UK’s technical workforce in higher education and research.

Role: Commissioner

Approach: Appointed as a TALENT UKRI-funded National Policy Commission Commissioner concerning technician recognition and development across UK higher education. My role was to provide insights and evidence supporting the pedagogic contribution of technicians within the creative arts and to help shape, implement and monitor the final recommendations as they are adopted across the sector. Full report: TALENT Commission Report

Outcome and impact:

  • Led national-level work to elevate the visibility and value of technical careers through the UK’s first sector-wide policy commission
  • Informed the largest-ever UK survey of technical staff, contributing to the evidence base for future strategy
  • Delivered 16 strategic recommendations to guide national policy, institutional workforce planning, and funding decisions
  • Helped establish a long-term vision for technical skills as central to the UK’s ambitions in science, engineering, and creative industries
  • Championed inclusion of technicians in teaching, leadership, and knowledge exchange, driving systemic change across UK HE and research institutions.
  • An independent report on the interventions and impact of the TALENT programme is available here: TALENT Commission Report – Understanding the UK Technical Workforce

Client / Institution: University for the Creative Arts (UCA)

Role: Director of Technical Learning

Challenge / Goal: To modernise and reposition a traditional ‘backstage’ technical services function into a strategically integrated pedagogical team across a multi-campus, multi-disciplinary creative arts institution to deliver current portfolio and scale in response to evolving requirements.

Approach: I led the full transformation of the Technical Services department, developing a new institutional Technical Strategy, conceptualising and aligning technical delivery with curriculum design, embedding teaching qualifications and professional development, and streamlining systems and processes across campuses.

Outcome / Impact:

  • Repositioned technical teams as pedagogical partners, contributing 27% of all university contact time (2025)
  • Winner of the Papin Prize for ‘Best Technical Team in UK Higher Education’ (2021)
  • Winner of the Technician Commitment Award for ‘Impact in Technical Teaching’ (2024)
  • Achieved an ‘Outstanding’ TEF outcome (2022) for staff professional development and academic practice based upon the technical teaching and contribution to graduate outcomes

Client / Institution: University of Portsmouth – Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries

Role: Consultant

Challenge / Goal: To support the review and realignment of the technical staffing structure in response to institutional changes and revised academic priorities.

Approach: I worked in partnership with the Head of Technical Services to conduct an audit of the existing team, benchmark against comparators, to analyse the scale, scope, and alignment of provision across the faculty. The process delivered a clear and evidence-based understanding of current capability and resourcing.

Outcome / Impact:

  • Produced a review that underpinned restructuring decisions
  • Contributed to a streamlined and future-facing staffing model
  • Ensured the revised structure was better matched to the evolving needs of courses and institutional strategy

Client: Xiamen University/University for the Creative Arts (UCA)

Role: Strategic Technical Lead

Challenge / Goal: To support the successful design and delivery of a joint partnership between Xiamen University and UCA to establish a new campus in China to form the ‘Institute of Creativity and Innovation’, ensuring technical infrastructure aligned with international academic and operational requirements.

Approach: I led the technical workstream of this high-profile partnership initiative, working on-site in China alongside the Vice-Chancellor and engaging in direct negotiation with Chinese institutional partners. My responsibilities included overseeing the refurbishment of teaching buildings, designing purpose-built specialist studios, specifying equipment aligned to module content, and developing staffing models. I also navigated cultural and legal frameworks to ensure compliance and contextual appropriateness.

Outcome / Impact:

  • Delivered the full technical planning and implementation for the new Xiamen campus
  • Created an integrated staffing and facilities model aligned to both UCA and Chinese standards
  • Contributed to the successful launch of a sustainable, cross-cultural academic partnership

Client / Institution: AdvanceHE

Role: PFHEA Exemplar and External Advisor

Challenge / Goal: To gain national recognition for technical education leadership and contribute to the development of more inclusive pathways to professional recognition for non-academic staff in higher education.

Approach: I became the first technical professional to be awarded AdvanceHE Principal Fellowship Academy (PFHEA), with my submission recognised by AdvanceHE as an exemplary case. It is now used nationally for reference and training purposes. Following the 2024 revision of the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF), I provided consultation on adapting PFHEA guidance to better support applications from professional services and technical staff.

Outcome / Impact:

  • First and only PFHEA awarded to a technical staff member in the UK
  • Submission adopted as a national exemplar by AdvanceHE
  • Contributed to inclusive reform of PFHEA guidance following UKPSF update (2024)
  • Influenced greater recognition of professional services in HE teaching and learning

Client / Institution: University for the Creative Arts (UCA) in partnership with London College of Contemporary Arts (LCCA)

Role: Strategic Technical Lead

Challenge / Goal: To support the establishment and academic validation of a new partnership campus in central London, ensuring appropriate infrastructure, staffing, and resources to deliver high-quality student experiences.

Approach: I led key technical workstreams through the transition into new premises. This included defining requirements for specialist spaces, staffing models, technologies, and equipment. I designed and implemented an institutional risk register engaging a ‘partner check’ methodology to assess and assure compliance, educational quality, and operational readiness.

Outcome / Impact:

  • Delivered a comprehensive plan for safe, effective and sustainable technical operations
  • Influenced monitoring controls, prompted changes to health and safety protocols, governance structures, and staffing models
  • Supported successful course validations and ensured alignment with UCA’s quality and resource standards

Client / Institution: UCA/Office for Students (OfS) – Collaborative Capital Bid

Role: Bid writer and Technical Strategy Lead (UCA)

Challenge / Goal: To secure and deliver a multi-partner capital investment project focused on developing cutting-edge motion capture and immersive learning environments for computer games and creative technologies.

Approach: I co-led the successful institutional bid for the OfS Capital Bidding Round (2021), contributing technical strategy across pedagogic design, infrastructure planning, and institutional alignment. My role included working with academic stakeholders to shape the vision for specialist learning environments, specifying equipment and staffing needs, and supporting collaboration between teachers, technicians, contractors, and project managers to ensure delivery.

Outcome / Impact:

  • Successfully secured £2M in capital funding
  • Delivered new immersive learning spaces on time and on budget
  • Established knowledge exchange and commercialisation income stream

Client / Institution: West Dean College

Role: Consultant and Senior Tutor

Challenge / Goal: To review and strengthen the college’s short course model to ensure it remains competitive, relevant, and aligned with evolving learner and market needs.

Approach: I was commissioned to conduct a strategic review of the short course offer, analysing institutional performance data and benchmarking against comparable sector offerings. My recommendations focused on enhancing distinctiveness, identifying market opportunities, and strengthening learner progression pathways. The review also evaluated quality assurance processes and alignment with best practices in lifelong learning and community education.

Outcome / Impact:

  • Delivered a suite of strategic recommendations for course development and portfolio enhancement
  • Strengthened internal quality assurance and enhancement mechanisms
  • Informed future planning to expand audience reach, optimise delivery models, and reinforce brand positioning

Client / Institution: University for the Creative Arts (UCA)

Role: Technical Workstream Lead

Challenge / Goal: To manage the technical elements of UCA’s strategic withdrawal from the Rochester campus while simultaneously facilitating the successful consolidation and expansion of facilities and staffing at Epsom.

Approach: I led the technical planning and execution of a multi-year institutional change programme, working across Estates, HR, Finance, IDS, academic, and student experience teams. This involved overseeing the safe relocation of specialist technical resources and staff, designing and equipping new spaces at Epsom, and aligning infrastructure to curriculum needs. My approach emphasised continuity of student experience, efficiency, providing exemplary learning facilities, and long-term value for money.

Outcome / Impact:

  • Delivered a two-year transition with minimal disruption to students and staff
  • Expanded Epsom’s infrastructure to accommodate increased populations and technical capacity
  • Reduced operational duplication and improved efficiency across campuses
  • Strengthened alignment of facilities to UCA’s revised academic portfolio

Client / Partners: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and The UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy (ITTS).

Role: Visiting Research Fellow

Challenge / Goal: To share UK best practices of technical pedagogies and explore global approaches to technician practices in creative higher education, and to contribute to cross-cultural dialogue around technician identity and educational impact.
Approach: I undertook a funded knowledge exchange placement in the United States, where I presented research findings on technician-led teaching practice, shared UK sector innovations, and engaged institutional leaders in discussions on workforce recognition and curriculum integration. I contributed to the development of shared international frameworks for technical learning.

Outcome / Impact:

  • Strengthened transatlantic dialogue on technician roles in creative education
  • Shared UK best practices with globally respected institutions
  • Built enduring relationships for future international collaboration
  • Published blog for ITSS and conference presentations
  • Expanded and contextualised doctoral research for publication

Client / Partners: School of Film, Media and Performing Arts (UCA), Fusion Project Management, Pascall + Watson Architects

Role: Academic Development Lead

Challenge / Goal: To lead the academic and technical specification for a new £10M purpose-built facility serving the evolving needs of the School of Media and Performing Arts.

Approach: I acted as the academic and technical lead and interface with architects, developing the client brief and defining pedagogically aligned requirements for specialist facilities including a black box theatre, recording studio, live room, auditorium, and rehearsal spaces. Working closely with academics, architects, suppliers, and professional services, I led the integration of curriculum vision with infrastructure delivery. I represented the university across all stages of the RIBA Plan of Work—from concept design through to successful occupation.

Outcome / Impact:

  • Delivered a pedagogically aligned, future-ready creative learning facility
  • Ensured academic needs were fully embedded into the design and construction process
  • Strengthened collaboration between academic, technical, and estates stakeholders
  • Supported successful transition from concept design to occupation

Client / Partners: University for the Creative Arts (UCA), Create Safe Ltd
Role: Lead Investigator.

Challenge / Goal: To investigate a significant health and safety incident on a student film set, identify and address root causes, and strengthen institutional practices and awareness.

Approach: I was appointed as lead investigator and conducted a comprehensive root cause analysis, identifying systemic gaps and unsafe behaviours. I developed a detailed action plan and presented findings to the University Health and Safety Committee. The work initiated an institution-wide action research project that improved safety policy, procedural documentation, and embedded health and safety more firmly within professional practice. I also facilitated knowledge exchange with other HEIs to raise sector standards.

Outcome / Impact:

  • Improved institutional health and safety policies, documentation and safe working culture
  • Elevated H&S as a core component of creative practice, professional development and graduate employability
  • Supported cultural change around safety awareness and responsibility
  • Enabled sector-wide learning through collaboration and knowledge sharing
Scroll to Top