OUR PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT STAFF
Staff profiles page for Research and Innovation Services at Northumbria University.
The RIS Executive Team lead and manage the RIS Service. Together, they work with University and Faculty leadership teams to implement the research & knowledge exchange delivery plan, respond to external requirements, and provide support to academic colleagues and the broader RIS team. They also work across the University to support broader requirements such as Health & Safety, Sustainability and EDI.
Jenny Taylor
Executive Director of Research and Innovation Services
Director for Economic Development
jenny2.taylor@northumbria.ac.uk
As Executive Director of Research and Innovation Services, Jenny leads the RIS team, working closely with the Pro Vice Chancellor (Research & Knowledge Exchange) to shape and implement the Research & Knowledge Exchange Strategic Delivery Plans, and works with external organisations such as funders and government departments to understand and influence the research and knowledge exchange policy environment. Jenny also leads the development of strategic place based innovation and economic regeneration projects for the university identifying and accessing appropriate funding opportunities.
Michael Parker
Director of Knowledge Exchange
michael2.parker@northumbria.ac.uk
Michael leads the research impact and IP commercialisation teams and is responsible for the development and implementation of University-wide approaches to support the generation of impact. This encompasses engaged research, impact in research assessment, public and policy engagement, and the commercialisation of intellectual property. The Impact and IP commercialisation teams work with colleagues across the university to evidence their research impact and help identify, protect, and exploit any intellectual property from their research.
Andrew Poole
Head of Research Quality and Compliance / RIS Lead for REF2029
Andrew is Head of the Research Quality and Compliance team within RIS. The team works with Principal Investigators across the University to manage and deliver our externally funded research projects, providing expert advice, guidance and compliance support to our grant holders. He recently managed the implementation of new pre- and post-award research management systems on behalf of Research and Innovations Services and is now leading the RIS team in preparation for REF2029. Andrew’s previous roles include Head of Grants and Contracts and Head of Preparations for REF2021.
Jessica Holmes
Head of Grants and Contracts
jessica.holmes@northumbria.ac.uk
Jess is the Head of Grants and Contracts and leads a team of Research Development Managers and Coordinators who are responsible for supporting academics to develop high-quality research proposals and secure external funding. The team provides hands-on support to our academic colleagues, which includes supporting discussions regarding idea development, training delivery, funder engagement, strategic development of funding plans, critical feedback on applications, costings, navigating the approvals process and liaising with partners, as well as contributing to Funder Liaison Groups and Research Committees.
Rachel Williamson-Pears
Director of Research Operations
rachel.williamson-pears@northumbria.ac.uk
Rachel joined RIS as Director of Research Operations in May 2024.
Laura Hutchinson
Head of Research Development and Culture
laura.hutchinson2@northumbria.ac.uk
Laura Hutchinson is Head of Research Development and Culture which encompasses strategic planning and support for Faculties and School to deliver research funding ambitions. Working closely with the Dean of Research Culture she is responsible for the delivery of the Research Culture Action Plan and enabling the growth of a vibrant, fair and inclusive research culture.
Elizabeth Savage
Executive Assistant to Executive Director of RIS
elizabeth.savage@northumbria.ac.uk
Elizabeth provides executive support to Jenny Taylor and Michael Parker. Please contact Elizabeth for diary availability, matters relating to the RIS Directors and to inform of any upcoming deadlines that require sign off.
The Research Development and Culture team enable a broad portfolio of activity which includes:
- Research development activity supporting researcher and Faculties to develop their research ideas, and funding plans; sharing funder intelligence through briefings and papers, and supporting Funder Liaison groups.
- Research culture activity and the delivery of our research culture action plan.
- Researcher development events and training with a particular focus on our early career researcher community.
- Research communications, working closely with our central Marketing and Communications service to coordinate key research events and news.
Research Development Managers (RDMs)
Research Development Managers (RDMs) provide specialist expertise in relation to the domestic and international research funding, work closely with a variety of research funders, academics and their non-academic partners and provide professional project management skills to catalyse and coordinate activity to enable the development and submission of strategic and large value collaborative funding proposals. RDMs are primarily funder-aligned, supporting strategic/complex funding opportunities, specifically in relation to their designated funders across the university.
For Horizon Europe Pillar 1 & 2 calls, and larger UKRI-wide calls, please contact the faculty-aligned Research Development Manager in the first instance.
David Young
Research Development Manager
Funder alignment: STFC, EPSRC, NERC
Strategic/Faculty leadership support: Engineering & Environment
Ian Shovlin
Research Development Manager
Funder-alignment: AHRC & Leverhulme Trust
Strategic/Faculty leadership support: Arts, Design & Social Sciences
Andrew Latimer
Research Development Manager
andrew.latimer@northumbria.ac.uk
Funder-alignment: Research England, UKRI cross-council,
Innovate UK, ARIA
Strategic/Faculty leadership support: Business and Law
Sarah Thomas
Research Development Manager
sarah3.thomas@northumbria.ac.uk
Scott McGee
Research Development Manager
Funder alignment: MRC, BBSRC, Wellcome Trust
Strategic/Faculty leadership support: Health & Life Sciences
Jack Palmer
Research Development Manager
This team develops and delivers learning and development activities and online resources for researchers across all career stages. Northumbria staff can access and register onto upcoming activities on the research development events calendar and research development intranet pages.
Samantha King
Researcher Development and Culture Manager
samantha.king@northumbria.ac.uk
Working collaboratively with Professional Support Services and academic departments, Sam commissions, develops and delivers a range of learning and development activities and online resources related to researcher skills development. Supporting academics across all career stages, these activities and resources are designed to build collaborations, enrich skills, foster talents and to support people to reach their full potential here at Northumbria and wide in the wider world.
Edan Pickering
Research Culture & Development Coordinator
edan3.pickering@northumbria.ac.uk
Edan supports the organisation and delivery of researcher development activities for academics across all career stages at Northumbria University. These opportunities provide academics with the skills and knowledge to enhance their careers. Edan also supports the provision of online resources, including accessible training videos and self-learn modules and is responsible for updating and maintaining the University's Researcher Development events calendar.
Grainne O'Hare
Research Culture and Development Administrator
grainne.ohare@northumbria.ac.uk
Grainne joined the Policy Team in April 2024 and supports researcher development activity.
Jessie Holleran
Research Content and Communications Officer
jessie.holleran@northumbria.ac.uk
Jessie joined the Research Development and Culture team in November 2024, after moving from the Content team in GMB. Prior to this role, Jessie spent 13 years at the BBC, where she developed a strong foundation in storytelling and audience engagement. Jessie is responsible for producing and managing content that highlights the university’s research strengths, supports funding and collaboration opportunities, and enhances the visibility of research activity across digital and print platforms. They work closely with academic and professional colleagues to ensure communications are clear, compelling, and aligned with institutional goals.
The Grants and Contracts team, comprising of the Business Development Team and Pre and Post Award Coordinators and Administrators, offers support for research grant applications from ideas right through to submission. This includes supporting discussions regarding idea development, training delivery, funder engagement, strategic development of funding plans, critical feedback on applications, costings, navigating the approvals process and liaising with partners.
Business Development Team:
Nick Stephenson
Business Development Coordinator (Operations Team Lead & CPD Specialist)
nick.j.stephenson@northumbria.ac.uk
Anna Moroney
Business Development Coordinator (Degree Apprenticeships Specialist)
anna.moroney@northumbria.ac.uk
Ann Conway
Business Development Coordinator
Lucy Pedley
Business Development Coordinator
Peter Cragg
Business Development Coordinator (Consultancy Specialist)
Svenja Nagel-Esen
Business Development Coordinator (Collaborative and Contract Research Specialist)
svenja.nagel-esen@northumbria.ac.uk
Meril Saji
Research Contracts Coordinator
Meril joined the Research Delivery Team in February 2025.
Tatiana Sifaki
Research Contracts Coordinator
Tatiana joined the Research Delivery Team in February 2025. She has a Law degree from University of Sunderland, and she has further specialised with an LLM in International Commercial Law and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from Northumbria University.
Our Pre-Award team provides expert advice and guidance to researchers applying for externally funded research applications. Pre-Award support includes the coordination of project costings, approvals, compliance checks, due diligence, and lay review.
Susan Duffy
Pre Award Team Manager
Susan is Team Lead of the Pre Award Section and has worked at the university for over 20 years and within Research approx 10 years so has a good broad understanding of the Services supporting academics across the university
Departmental support: Law; Psychology; Marketing, Operations & Systems - please contact Susan in the first instance.
Victoria Boon
Pre-Award Development Officer
victoria.boon@northumbria.ac.uk
Funder alignment: Royal Society, UK Space Agency and European Space Agency
Victoria provides support to researchers to develop and secure external research grants via the provision of specialist support at every stage of the pre-award process, including guidance on preparing/checking the components, structure and content of the proposal.
Carolyn Taylor
Pre-Award Development Officer
carolyn2.taylor@northumbria.ac.uk
Carolyn provides support to researchers to develop and secure external research grants via the provision of specialist support at every stage of the pre-award process, including guidance on preparing/checking the components, structure and content of the proposal.
Funder alignments: British Academy, Academy of Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health.
Steve Bremner
Pre-Award Development Officer
steve2.bremner@northumbria.ac.uk
Departmental Support: Sports, Education and Rehabilitation (SER)
Steve provides support to researchers to develop and secure external research grants via the provision of specialist support at every stage of the pre-award process, including guidance on preparing/checking the components, structure and content of the proposal, with a specific IDRT lens.
Daisy Winter
Pre-Award Development Officer
daisy3.winter@northumbria.ac.uk
Carolyn provides support to researchers to develop and secure external research grants via the provision of specialist support at every stage of the pre-award process, including guidance on preparing/checking the components, structure and content of the proposal.
Sarah Agnew
Pre-Award Coordinator
Faculty Support: ADSS/HLS
Departmental support: Arts; Design; Humanities; Nursing, Midwifery & Health
Sarah provides support to academic staff across all 4 faculties.
Simon Cochrane
Pre-Award Coordinator
simon.j.cochrane@northumbria.ac.uk
Departmental support: Social Sciences; Geography & Environmental Sciences; Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing (SWECW).
Vira Levkivska
Pre-Award Coordinator
vira.levkivska@northumbria.ac.uk
Departmental support: Applied Sciences; Architecture & Built Environment
Maureen McCourt
Pre-Award Coordinator
maureen.mccourt@northumbria.ac.uk
Faculty Support: EE
Departmental support: Leadership & HRM; Accounting & Financial Management; Entrepreneurship & Innovation Strategy
Maureen has provided support to academic staff across all 4 faculties.
Alex Okike
Pre-Award Coordinator
Departmental support: Computer and Information Sciences (CIS); Maths, Physics & Electrical Engineering (MPEE).
Alex has provided support to academic staff across all 4 faculties.
James Clay
Pre-Award Coordinator
Andrew Pearce
Pre-Award Coordinator
andrew.pearce@northumbria.ac.uk
Faculty Support: EE
Departmental support: Mechanical & Construction Engineering (MCE)
Andy has supported academic staff across all 4 faculties.
Tier 1 applications for external funding (typically under £25k)
The team members below provide support and guidance to Tier 1 (typically under £25k) applications for external funding. This support includes the coordination of project costings, approvals and compliance checks:
Carol Bennett
Pre-Award Administrator
carol.bennett@northumbria.ac.uk
Faculty support: Business & Law; Engineering & Environment
Carol provides support to academic staff with external funding applications, specifically Business and Law (BL) and Engineering and Environment (EE) with Tier 1 funding. Carol can provide support with costing in line with funder guidelines, institutional approval processes, Worktribe queries and submitting via external submission systems. In addition, Carol assists with Departmental financial support via SAP and Coupa. Carol has over twenty years' experience in Higher Education and has been part of Research and Innovation Services since 2013.
Jessica O'Donnell
Pre-Award Administrator
jessica2.odonnell@northumbria.ac.uk
Faculty support: Arts, Design & Social Sciences; Health & Life Sciences
Jessica provides support to academic staff for external funding applications and is the primary contact for Tier 1 funding for Arts, Design and Social Sciences (ADSS), and Health and Life Sciences (HLS). Jessica can provide support with costing in-line with funder guidelines; institutional approval processes; Worktribe queries; and submitting via external submission systems.
Our Post-Award team provides expert advice and guidance to researchers.
Magda Szewczyk
Post-Award Manager (Finance and Compliance)
magda.szewczyk@northumbria.ac.uk
Magda joined RIS in October 2024.
Leena Milroy
Post-Award Manager (Project Delivery)
leena.milroy@northumbria.ac.uk
Leena joined RIS in November 2024. Prior to Northumbria, Leena has worked extensively in project management, change and transformation across the public, higher education and private sectors. Her current remit covers the elements of large-scale project management, ranging from contributing to the university’s delivery approach to providing training to both the academic and non-academic staff involved in delivering projects. Leena also leads on the development of policies and processes that expedite the mobilisation and delivery of grants. In addition, Leena is managing a team of Post-Award coordinators and officers as well as the Research Contracts coordinators.
Karen Finley
Post Award Officer
karen.finley@northumbria.ac.uk
Karen provides support to PIs on complex research grants, including financial management, budget monitoring, claims and audits, forecasting and reporting. Karen supports Academic colleagues in managing their budgets, offering advice and guidance on internal policies and procedures, and funder regulations. Karen works closely with partners to ensure successful delivery of the grant.
Rachel Sibley
Post Award Officer
rachel.sibley@northumbria.ac.uk
Rachel joined the team in July 2023 after previously working in both pre & post award at Newcastle University. Rachel will work closely with PI’s and academic colleagues to project manage externally funded research and knowledge exchange with a diverse range of funders and partners. Rachel will maintain an oversight of project budgets and expenditure which will include budget monitoring, forecasting and reporting. Rachel will also provide guidance and support to ensure research milestone and deliverables are met whilst adhering to funder terms and conditions and internal procedures and policies
Kelly Wilkinson
Post Award Officer
kelly.wilkinson@northumbria.ac.uk
Kelly provides central support across the team. She has created and now maintains central sources for collating important project information such as claim deadlines, forecasts, documentation and more. Kelly also continues to look at ways of improving the management of information, until new systems are in place. Kelly is also an experienced research delivery coordinator and provides additional support to colleagues in the faculties during busy periods as well as provide training to new team members.
Joanne Craig
Post Award Officer
joanne.craig@northumbria.ac.uk
I’m a post award Officer looking after projects mainly within the Health and Wellbeing Faculty. I’ve been in RIS for 6 months, and just over 3 years at Northumbria with previous roles within the University in International and Finance. Interests outside of work, are my family, including 2 children and 3 bunnies who keep me extremely busy!
Maya Duncanson
Post Award Coordinator
maya.duncanson@northumbria.ac.uk
Maya provides Post Award support to the Business and Law Faculty, working closely with PIs on various externally funded projects including those funded by European Commission, British Academy, Leverhulme Trust, Innovate UK and other collaborative partners. Maya provides expenditure reports and statements to funders and liaises with PIs on post award matters such as budget and spend, quarterly forecast on live projects and audit preparation.
Andrea Reynolds
Post Award Coordinator
andrea.reynolds@northumbria.ac.uk
Andrea provides post award support to project teams in the Engineering & Environment Faculty from award through to closure. Andrea provides support with tasks such as budget updates, claim preparation, invoicing, compliance with funder guidelines, coordination of audits, budget forecasting and reprofiling. Andrea has experience of European Funding and is keen to support colleagues to optimise their grants and deliver successful projects.
Lynn Retallick
Post Award Coordinator
lynn.retallick@northumbria.ac.uk
Lynn offers project and financial management skills and expertise to assist in the successful delivery of Research Grants awarded by external funding bodies. Lynn has experience in grant management of revenue and capital projects, forecasting & budgetary control, funding claims/ reporting, compliance and audit and assists PIs to ensure research grants are utilised to their full potential. Lynn works closely with research partners and colleagues within all support areas, to keep research projects on track and successful.
Bukunola Adekolu
Post Award Coordinator
bukunola.adekolu@northumbria.ac.uk
Bukunola supports research projects, managing all aspects of budget and spend monitoring, compliance, claims and invoicing, financial reporting, contracts and procurement. Bukunola’s experience before Northumbria covered programme operational management of donor-funded international development programmes across Africa and the Middle East.
Michael Baty
Post Award Coordinator
michael.baty@northumbria.ac.uk
Michael provides post award support, financial management and administration of research projects, within the Health & Life Sciences Faculty, mainly overseeing the departments of Applied Sciences and Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing. Michael prepares financial statements for both internal and external stakeholders, and monitors project accounts to ensure we comply with both funding and financial regulations, including audit preparation as required, and assists in the preparation of quarterly forecast reports for faculty.
Paul Beal
Post Award Coordinator
Paul Beal is the research delivery coordinator for the Help to Grow management programme, a course delivered with the Chartered Association of Business Schools to support small and medium businesses. Paul works closely with the programme PI to deliver budget monitoring and project forecasting, financial reports on spending, claim preparation, invoicing, audit preparation and ensuring expenditure compliance.
Andrea Palfreeman
Post Award Coordinator
andrea.palfreeman@northumbria.ac.uk
Andrea provides post award support for externally funded awards which includes monitoring spend against budgets, claims and invoicing, financial reporting, and audit preparation. Andrea works with PI’s to offer advice and guidance on funder and University rules and regulations.
Kirsty Hoey
Post Award Coordinator
Kirsty currently provides support for the CPD and Consultancies across all four faculties. Kirsty is responsible for the claims, invoicing, reporting and forecasting. Prior to working in RIS, Kirsty was part of the HLS faculty resource team and coordinated the IAPT project, providing project support and management.
Emma Crowley
Post Award Coordinator
emma.crowley@northumbria.ac.uk
Emma supports research projects, managing all aspects of budget and spend monitoring, compliance, claims and invoicing, financial reporting, contracts and procurement. Emma was previously an ERDF Coordinator for the NEBS2 Project, working with the Placements and Internships Team within Graduate Futures, and the Grants and Contracts Team within Research and Innovation Services. Emma has managed several large-scale, multi-party projects, including a multi-million-pound, 5-year Innovate UK, DASA and an ERDF project through BIC, in addition to managing the SME’s financial accounts.
Adam Dixon
Post Award Coordinator
Adam is the Research Delivery Coordinator for projects in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences. Adam assists PIs with the financial management of their projects, providing expenditure updates, submitting claims, invoicing, and producing reports. Adam's role involves providing expert knowledge of UNN's financial regulations and external funder guidance.
Alona Baranchenko
Post Award Coordinator
alona.baranchenko@northumbria.ac.uk
Alona provides post award support for externally funded awards, assisting PIs with financial management and administration of research projects mainly within the Faculty of Science and Environment. Alona provides support with tasks such as monitoring spend against budgets, submitting claims and invoicing, financial reporting, and audit preparation. Alona works closely with PIs' to offer advice and guidance on funder and University rules and regulations and is keen to support PIs' in delivering successful projects.
Ashley Coates
Post Award Assistant
ashley.coates@northumbria.ac.uk
Ashley supports the research delivery coordinators with project support for externally funded projects, including claim submissions, reconciliations, journals, invoicing, and forecasting, as well as audit assistance and Tier 1 project portfolio project management including Financial Management.
Helen Hodgson
Post Award Assistant
helen.hodgson@northumbria.ac.uk
The Knowledge Exchange (KE) teams include: the Business Development Team who support our academics with external projects including contract and collaborative research, consultancy, CPD, facilities and equipment access, and degree apprenticeships; the IP Commercialisation Team who support our academics with the identification, protection and exploitation of Intellectual Property (IP); the KTP Team who support Northumbria's KTP engagement, providing programme information, enquiry guidance, input to applications and support during project delivery; the Impact & Engagement Team who support academics to make a difference from their research in the world beyond the university, including policy, public and community engagement in research; and the Impact Accelerator Account Manager who manages and delivers Northumbria's involvement in Impact Accelerator Accounts funded by Research Councils to deliver greater impact from research outputs through knowledge exchange activity support.
The Research Impact Team can give help and advice on:
- Untangling what is impact and what it is not, including providing training and awareness sessions
- Planning to maximise impact throughout the research lifecycle
- Impact in research funding applications
- Engaged research, mapping and communicating with external stakeholders
- Different routes to impact including through engagement with policy makers
- Evaluating impact, evidencing and keeping records of change
- Impact in the Research Excellence Framework (REF)
Lucy Moorcraft
Impact and Engagement Manager
lucy.moorcraft@northumbria.ac.uk
Lucy has a scientific background and 20 years’ experience of teaching and communicating science and impact to a wide variety of audiences and in many different formats. She offers an impact perspective on research work and provides support and advice on: planning impact into your research; explaining specialist topics to non-specialist audiences; and communicating to different internal and external stakeholders.
Departmental alignments: Computing and Information Sciences; Psychology; Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation; UoA Education
Verna Armstrong
Impact and Engagement Officer
verna.armstrong@northumbria.ac.uk
Verna is committed to assisting staff in developing and evidencing societal impact from their potential impactful research through consistent engagement and collaboration.
Departmental alignments: Mechanical and Construction Engineering; Maths, Physics and Electrical Engineering; Applied Sciences; Geography and Environmental Sciences
Gabriella Arrigoni
Impact and Engagement Officer
gabriella.arrigoni@northumbria.ac.uk
Gabi provides strategic advice on how to best plan, evaluate and evidence research impact, as well as supporting impact within bid proposals and developing impact literacy. She is passionate about building capacity for an impact culture that is inherent to the research process.
Departmental alignments: Art and Design; Social Sciences; Nursing, Midwifery and Health; Architecture and the Built Environment; Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing
Emma Watson
Impact and Engagement Officer
emma11.watson@northumbria.ac.uk
With a background in the teaching side of Higher Education, Emma has recently moved into the research field at Northumbria University. Emma has experience in providing training on and communicating about educationally focused projects and demonstrating the impact they have on students through work at both Northumbria University and Durham Students’ Union. Emma is passionate about finding new and exciting ways to demonstrate especially the social impact of academic research and how this can make tangible change at all levels.
Departmental alignments: Humanities; Accounting and Financial Management; Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Strategy; Leadership and Human Resource Management; Marketing, Operations and System; The Business Clinic; and The Law School.
Jenny Hasenfuss
Policy Engagement Officer
jenny.hasenfuss@northumbria.ac.uk
Jenny is responsible for coordinating the Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) project related activity across the University of Northumbria and works closely with the other CAPE coordinators at University College London, University of Cambridge, University of Manchester and University of Nottingham, the CAPE consortium and policy partners. Prior to joining Northumbria University in June 2021, Jenny worked for ten years in a range of a research engagement roles within higher education including public engagement, community engagement, patient engagement and policy engagement.
Claire Hutchinson
Public and Community Engagement Officer
claire.s.hutchinson@northumbria.ac.uk
Claire is a Public and Community Engagement Officer in the Research Impact team. She supports on the Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) project and related activity across the University of Northumbria.
Claire joined Northumbria in April 2023 and comes from a background in the third sector and communication. Working in environmental regeneration for over ten years, Claire project managed a wide variety of programmes including a Primary Care Trust funded exercise on referral ‘Green Activity’ project, established a network of self-sustaining community allotments, as well as leading on Heritage schemes and urban land regeneration projects. Claire has also worked for HRH King Charles’ Corporate Social Responsibility Charity, Business in the Community, helping businesses improve their impact on society.
The IP Commercialisation Team can:
- Help find partners or funding to develop ideas further, supporting through the commercialisation process
- Evaluate and manage the protection of Intellectual Property (IP) including patents in accordance with Northumbria University’s Intellectual Property Policy
- Support finding licensees
- Give business support to create a company
- Advise on IP and exploitation sections in bids or other complex IP situations
Northumbria University Statement on the UK Government’s Independent Review of University Spinout Companies
Following the publication of the Independent Review of University Spinout Companies on 21st November 2023, Northumbria University has been working to develop its Intellectual Property (IP) Policy and processes to support the commercialisation of its research through the creation of spinout companies by fully adopting the recommendations within the Review. The University is pleased to support the recommendations, with the recently revised and publicly available IP Policy ((published in September 2024) fully aligned with the sector best practice detailed in the review. The IP Policy can be accessed here.
Chelsea Brain
IP Commercialisation Manager
chelsea.brain@northumbria.ac.uk
Chelsea is an engineer with business experience and over 7 years of experience in commercialising University technology. For Northumbria academics, Chelsea can: advise on protecting new inventions or ideas (Intellectual Property); support with exploitation of research and the commercialisation process; advise on anything related to IP or commercialisation. For companies, Chelsea can introduce licencing opportunities or academic expertise fitting to solving company challenges.
Shanjoy Mairembam
IP Commercialisation Manager
shanjoy.mairembam@northumbria.ac.uk
Shan is an Innovation & Growth professional with a background in engineering, management and law and 19 years of experience across IT/Telecom industry, growth consultancy and Higher Education. Shan supports protection and exploitation of research outputs and new venture creation of disruptive innovations. He helps in contract negotiation of ‘licensing, collaboration, joint venture’ deals. Prior to Northumbria, Shan worked at University of Leicester (specialising in IP commercialisation and spinout formation) and University of Westminster (focusing on knowledge exchange and knowledge transfer activities).
Usain AlKadri
IP Commercialisation Manager
usain.alkadri@northumbria.ac.uk
Usain has a Ph.D. in Energy Engineering and extensive experience in business development, IP commercialization, and start-ups. Usain's career focuses on mentoring and consulting individuals and organizations to transform their innovative ideas into successful ventures. He has launched multiple start-ups himself and has a vast international network, with various consultants, companies, firms, and investors. Usain works closely with Northumbria academics and spinout companies and offers a comprehensive range of services, including guidance on protecting new inventions, supporting the exploitation of research outputs, facilitating collaborations between industry and academia, and forming spinouts. Additionally, Usain offers help in crafting compelling visions, missions, and business plans in the spinout's respective pursuits to commercialize university IP and contributes to fostering a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and knowledge exchange at Northumbria University.
Elspeth MacDonald
IP Commercialisation Coordinator
elspeth.macdonald@northumbria.ac.uk
Elspeth joined the IP Commercialisation team in October 2024, after gaining a Masters in Biomedical Engineering and almost 2 years experience working in a medical device spinout. Elspeth supports the IP Commercialisation Managers, manages the University’s IP portfolio, conducts prior art searches and runs Northumbria’s Knowledge Bank to advertise materials arising from research.
The Business Development and Commercialisation team works with Northumbria colleagues, businesses, and external partners to promote opportunities for collaboration and drive innovation. We support a wide range of Knowledge Exchange (KE) and Enterprise activities, including Consultancy, Continuing Professional Development (CPD), Degree Apprenticeships, Contract Research, and Collaborative Research.
We also manage Northumbria’s involvement in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), a UKRI/Innovate UK programme that connects businesses with academic expertise to deliver strategic innovation. Our structured approach ensures effective handling of KTP enquiries, funding applications, and project management, all aligned with funder requirements.
Emma Batey
Business Development Managers
Faculty alignment: Arts, Design and Social Sciences; Health and Life Sciences
Richard Hopper
Business Development Manager
richard.hopper@northumbria.ac.uk
Faculty alignment: Health and Life Sciences
Vincent Robson
Business Development Manager
vincent.robson@northumbria.ac.uk
Faculty: Business and Law
Sam Tennant
Business Development Manager
samantha.tennant@northumbria.ac.uk
Faculty: Engineering and Environment
Robyn Liddle
Business Development Manager
robyn.liddle@northumbria.ac.uk
Faculty: Engineering and Environment
Rizwan Khan
Business Development Coordinator
rizwan2.khan@northumbria.ac.uk
Lindsay Connolly
KTP Manager
lindsay.connolly@northumbria.ac.uk
Lindsay supports Northumbria’s KTP engagement, providing programme information, enquiry guidance, input to applications and support during project delivery. Pre- and Post-Award expertise is available from the RIS team and Business Development Managers in GMB.
Karl Ward
KTP Manager
Karl supports Northumbria’s KTP engagement, providing programme information, enquiry guidance, input to applications and support during project delivery. Pre- and Post-Award expertise is available from the RIS team and Business Development Managers in GMB.
Jack Grummit
KTP Manager
Harriett Armstrong
KE Administrator
h.r.armstrong@northumbria.ac.uk
Greg Stone
KE Administrator
The Research Quality and Compliance Team works collaboratively and in partnership with colleagues across the institution on the related agendas of research integrity and ethics, research evaluation and trusted research. In addition to leading Northumbria’s preparations for the Research Excellence Framework, the team provides strategic reporting and ensures that our underpinning systems support our ambitions for growth of quality research.
Research Due Diligence and Compliance
Paul and Jamie provide advice on issues relating to trusted research, due diligence and regulatory compliance at all stages of the research lifecycle. Please contact rm.trustedresearch@northumbria.ac.uk or visit our due diligence intranet pages.
Paul Smith
Research Due Diligence and Compliance Manager
Paul can advise on issues relating to regulatory compliance and due diligence at all stages of the research lifecycle.
Jamie McWilliams
Research Due Diligence and Compliance Coordinator
jamie.mcwilliams@northumbria.ac.uk
Jamie works with the Research Due Diligence and Compliance Manager to support colleagues to ensure regulatory compliance and that all research projects are subject to proportionate due diligence.
Research Ethics and Integrity
Ellen, Hala and Emily offer support and guidance on using the online research ethics application system, external ethical approvals and compliance, and can advise on best practice for the ethical conduct of research at Northumbria. For general ethics queries, you can contact the team inbox at ethicssupport@northumbria.ac.uk or visit the Ethics and Integrity webpage. If you have a confidential research integrity issue to report, you can contact ellen.cole@northumbria.ac.uk
Ellen Cole
Research Environment and Integrity Manager
ellen.s.cole@northumbria.ac.uk
Ellen leads on initiatives that enhance the research environment across the University, and support our academic staff to deliver the highest quality research. This includes developing the University’s research culture action plan, and the systems and services that support internal and external research assessment processes. Ellen takes an active interest in open research and participates in both University and sector-wide initiatives to increase access to academic research publications and their underlying data, and implementation of principles of responsible research assessment.
Hala Othman
Research Ethics and Development Coordinator
hala.othman@northumbria.ac.uk.
Hala leads on research ethics and integrity training and development opportunities across the university, offering support for researchers at all levels through training materials, presentations, and documented guidance. She has a developed understanding of both internal and external frameworks, regulations, and best practices and can provide advice in these areas, too. Hala supports the ethical review process at all levels and offers support and guidance with this process, whilst also strengthening the positive and integral research culture through her work.
Em Howes
Research Ethics and Integrity Coordinator
Em joined the Policy Team in April 2024 and supports research ethics activity.
Research Information and Systems
Peter and Paul provide support for users of research systems including Worktribe, Infonetica and Pure as well as support and advice on data integrations and research data management. Reporting dashboards on Northumbria’s strategic ambitions for research and KE are developed and maintained by the team. For general PureSupport enquiries, please contact puresupport@northumbria.ac.uk.
Peter Cammish
Research Information & Systems Manager
peter.cammish@northumbria.ac.uk
Peter manages data and information related to research systems. This includes our main research information system Pure as well as working with other research support systems such as Worktribe and Ethics Online. With a strong interest in data management and better utilising information for decision making, Peter is actively implementing ways to streamline integration and reporting of research data and metrics. Peter can offer help and advice on data integrations, research data management and reporting as well as support for users of research systems.
Paul Mitchell
Research Policy & Systems Coordinator
paul.mitchell@northumbria.ac.uk
Paul supports the maintenance and development of the University research information system and repository of scholarly publications, Pure. Paul offers advice and assistance to academics updating their research profiles via Pure and supports the production of institutional research data and reports.
Research Quality and Assessment
Kevin manages Northumbria’s internal peer review processes and the custom-design Research Quality Review System (RQRS) and supports initiatives aimed at promoting responsible research assessment. Alongside Andrew, Kevin manages preparations for the upcoming REF 2029 exercise and also serves as a member of the University Strategy Advisory Group.
Kevin Richardson
Research Quality and Assessment Manager
kevin2.richardson@northumbria.ac.uk
Kevin has wide experience in research system implementation and provided close support to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 submission. In his current role, Kevin leads on the management of research quality processes and systems. Additionally, he supports initiatives aimed at enhancing research culture and promoting responsible research assessment. Kevin continues to assist preparations for the upcoming REF 2029 exercise and serves as a member of the University Strategy Advisory Group.
The Economic Development team work with academics across the university to maximise the potential impact our research and innovation can have in the region. The team develop and deliver funding strategies for strategic regional projects and offer advise across the university on regional funding sources.
Jenny Taylor
Executive Director of Research and Innovation Services | Director of Economic Development
Jenny2.taylor@northumbria.ac.uk
Jenny is Executive Director of Research and Innovation Services. She leads the development of strategic place based innovation and economic regeneration projects for the university identifying and accessing appropriate funding opportunities. She also works closely with local policymakers supporting ambitions for innovation, knowledge exchange and embedding the role of the university.
Michelle Kay
Economic Development Manager
michelle.kay@northumbria.ac.uk
Michelle joined the Economic Development Team in 2024.
Graduate School Overview
The Graduate School, based within Research and Innovation Services, has oversight of postgraduate research degrees, and in collaboration with Faculties and other service departments, supports postgraduate research students from admission to award.
The team support around 1000 PGR students and their supervisors, in addition to managing studentships from UKRI, industry and internal RDF funding as well as self funding students. We also oversee regulations, training, circumstances affecting progress, complaints and appeals and many other daily activities which enhance the student journey and contribute to key research targets.
Team Members
Tim Baxter
Graduate School Manager
Tim is responsible for oversight of postgraduate research student and related academic support, through support for Dean of the Graduate School and Graduate School Committee, PGR Academic Managers, and management of the Graduate School Team.
Paul Agnew
PGR Coordinator (Graduate School)
Paul is responsible for the Professional Support aspect of PGR students (PhD and Professional Doctorate), aligned to the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences – around 315 students currently. As part of the Graduate School, we look after the students from first enrolment to award, including systems which manage milestone review points, regulations and examinations. He also co-ordinates projects such as improving the examinations processes and the Collaborative Doctoral Scheme
Michelle Austin
Graduate School Coordinator
michelle.austin@northumbria.ac.uk
Michelle looks after the Professional Support aspect of PGR students (PhD and Professional Doctorate), aligned to the Departments of Social Sciences & Humanities, within the Faculty of Arts, Design & Social Sciences. As part of the Graduate School, we look after the students from first enrolment to award, including systems which manage milestone review points, regulations, and examinations. Michelle also co-leads PGR Training and the Conference Bursary Scheme.
Chris Jackson
Graduate School Coordinator
christopher2.Jackson@northumbria.ac.uk
The Graduate School manage and support PGR students from enrolment to award. Chris manages central processes in the Graduate School such as Attendance Monitoring, the PRES Survey, data and reporting requests and others. Chris also coordinate projects to improve processes and systems for PGR Students and Academic Staff associated with PGR.
Sarah Jukes
PGR Coordinator (Graduate School)
Sarah looks after the Professional Support aspect of PGR students (PhD and Professional Doctorate), aligned to the Faculty of Business and Law. As part of the Graduate School, we look after the students from first enrolment to award, including systems which manage milestone review points, regulations and examinations. Sarah is also the lead for our Professional Doctorate and PhD by Publication programmes and provide advice and guidance within these areas.
Andrea Percival
PGR Coordinator (Graduate School)
andrea.percival@northumbria.ac.uk
Andrea looks after the Professional Support aspect of PGR students (PhD and Professional Doctorate), aligned to the Departments of Arts & Design within the Faculty of Arts, Design & Social Sciences. As part of the Graduate School, we look after the students from first enrolment to award, including systems which manage milestone review points, regulations, and examinations. I am also the lead admin support for the Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership students funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council and the NINE Doctoral Training Partnership students funded by the Economic and Social Research Council ensuring alignment of Northumbria’s processes with UKRI guidance.
Simon Mills
PGR Coordinator
Jennie Sharp
PGR Coordinator
jennie.sharp@northumbria.ac.uk
Tanjina Rahman
PGR Coordinator
tanjina.rahman@northumbria.ac.uk
Tanjina oversees the administration of PGR student records (PhD and Professional Doctorate). This includes new starter enrolments, processing examination teams and thesis submissions, organising viva-voce exams and processing student awards. Tanjina is also involved in the administration of PGR Training, which includes the maintenance of the Blackboard with up-to-date relevant PGR content. Tanjina also manages the Graduate School mailbox, CRM, SiteCore and other ad-hoc administration duties.
David Duckworth
Graduate School Administrator
david.duckworth@northumbria.ac.uk
As a research administrator in the Graduate School David looks after our PGR students on their research journeys, from their enrolment as new students to arranging the viva exams at the end of their studies. David also works with the coordinators in the Graduate School to help to answer any PGR related queries, to arrange any extension requests or breaks in studies and help with the Conference Bursary applications and with the monthly Research Degree Committee which approves all PGR exam outcomes and awards.
Research and Innovation Services
Pandon Building
University of Northumbria
Camden Street
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE2 1XE
For general enquiries, please contact researchsupport@northumbria.ac.uk
