Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing

Joanne Atkinson is Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellor for the faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Northumbria University.

As Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, Joanne leads one of the University’s three faculties. In her role as a member of the University Executive, she represents the Faculty, working closely with her fellow PVCs and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor to implement and achieve the University Strategy.

The Faculty of Health and Wellbeing unites a diverse range of disciplines and expertise and comprises around 8000 students and almost 500 staff, encompassed within 4 academic schools: Healthcare and Nursing Sciences; Communities and Education; Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation; and Psychology.

Joanne works closely with the Faculty’s Executive Leadership Team to provide strategic and operational leadership, guidance and support for colleagues, developing the vision for the Faculty and its academic schools, also working with colleagues to ensure positive student outcomes and an excellent student experience across all the Faculty’s programmes. Additionally, Joanne drives culture and performance, continuing to provide effective leadership in the development and delivery of world-leading research, ensuring that the Faculty maintains its trajectory in delivering its ambitious objectives.  Joanne also works closely with colleagues developing and strengthening key partnerships with regional, national and international organisations.

With a clear focus on experiential learning and strong links with regional and national partners, the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing offers graduates the opportunity to learn and develop new skills in real and simulated situations, enabling them to demonstrate their skills, knowledge and experience to potential employers.

Led by world-leading academics, Health and Wellbeing students engage in real-world research and professional practice placements, not only contributing to the generation of impactful research outcomes, but also in identifying and driving changes to policy and practice, improving the experience of regional, national and international communities.

Faculty colleagues utilise a range of innovative approaches to learning and teaching driving widening participation, social justice and increased social mobility to improve student outcomes, helping them to achieve their ambitions and produce a knowledgeable, skilled and confident workforce, ready to take their place in the world of employment and contribute to both their community and the economy. The Faculty has a strong history of workforce development particularly in health and social care.

Joanne is a Trustee for a national cancer charity called mynewhair, which supports people with medical hair loss from cancer treatment.  Joanne has successfully led and influenced its growth from a small-scale not-for-profit organisation to an international registered charity. She is a governor of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Joanne is also a member of numerous external committees and professional bodies:

European Centre for Excellence in Research in Continued Professional Development (CPD).

The Queens Nursing Institute Expert Standard Reference group developing field specific standards for community Palliative and End of Life Care.

The Palliative and End of Life Care Qualification in Speciality Group NHS England, Chief Nurses Office.

All Ireland workforce development in palliative care (St Francis Hospice), invited expert to share the successes she has achieved in workforce development in the hospice setting.

Council of Deans of Health

RIPEN - North East Palliative Care Research Centre strategic leadership group.

Prior to joining Northumbria, Joanne worked as a Registered Nurse, specialising in Oncology then Palliative and End of Life Care, this experience continues to inform her ethos of care within leadership.

Joanne joined Northumbria University in 1998, and since then has worked in a variety of roles; holding various leadership roles since 2010; and becoming Head of Department for Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing in 2019, until her appointment as Pro Vice-Chancellor in 2025.

Joanne is a first-in-family scholar giving her a true first-hand understanding of the ways education can transform the lives of individuals and communities, and her personal enthusiasm for our widening participation and social mobility ambitions at Northumbria.

She attended St Leonards RC Comprehensive School, Durham and graduated from Durham University with a BA (Hons) and has an MSc and Professional Doctorate from Northumbria University, in addition to her practice certifications: Registered General Nurse (RGN), Oncology Nursing Certificate, Diploma in Health Studies.

Contact the Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences