Graduate Futures Team

Andrew Haxell

Director (Graduate Futures): andrew.haxell@northumbria.ac.uk

Andrew joined Northumbria as Head of Careers and Employment in the summer 2014. A Modern History and International Relations graduate from St Andrews University, he worked initially for eight years in the banking sector as a graduate trainee in corporate banking for Bank of Scotland in Nottingham, then responsible for the Bank’s graduate recruitment and graduate training programme – based in Edinburgh – before joining Newcastle University as a trainee careers adviser. He worked at Newcastle in a variety of Careers practitioner and management and leadership roles for over 14 years. Since joining Northumbria Andrew has led the development of the University’s careers and employability support offer to students and graduates, including the creation in 2020 of the Graduate Futures service, bringing together Careers, Placements and Enterprise support roles and activities – adding International Mobility soon after. The resource in the service was re-focussed in the summer 2026 to support the ambition for experiential learning growth and development in the University Strategy, with the creation of Faculty-aligned Employability and Experiential Learning Hubs, and specialist careers support and enterprise development teams.

 

Anne Macdonald

Faculty Employability and Experiential Learning Manager: anne.m.macdonald@northumbria.ac.uk

Anne is the Faculty Employability and Experiential Learning Manager for the Faculty of Science and Environment. The team is Graduate Futures' aligned presence within the faculty, ensuring experiential learning is delivered well, helping students understand and develop their own career readiness and employability, and building the external stakeholder, professional support and academic relationships needed to make this happen. The team works in partnership with faculty, school and programme aligned colleagues to create, support and deliver targeted employability and experiential learning activity within programmes, aimed at improving the career readiness of current students and maximising their future graduate prospects. 

An experienced people and project manager, Anne has worked in national and regional leadership roles in construction, digital and education sectors. Her employment history spans the Environment Agency, RAF, Construction Industry Training Board and Dynamo North East and she enjoys building high performing teams and delivering projects with impact.  Having worked extensively in other parts of the UK, Anne is now very happy to have settled in the North East.

 

Lesley Wilson

Faculty Employability and Experiential Learning Manager: lesley.wilson@northumbria.ac.uk

Lesley is the Faculty Employability and Experiential Learning Manager for the Faculty of Society and Culture. The team is Graduate Futures' aligned presence within the faculty, ensuring experiential learning is delivered well, helping students understand and develop their own career readiness and employability, and building the professional and academic relationships needed to make both happen. The team work in partnership with faculty, school and programme aligned colleagues to create, support and deliver targeted employability and experiential learning activity within programmes, aimed at improving the career readiness of current students and maximising their future graduate prospects. 

A modern languages graduate from Newcastle University, Lesley has a range of management and project leadership experience within the private and higher education sectors. This work has most recently focused on experiential learning, careers and work based learning within higher education, partnering with academic colleagues, external partners and students on designing and developing curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular employability and experiential learning activity.

 

Graham Baty

Enterprise Development Manager: graham.baty@northumbria.ac.uk

Graham leads the Enterprise Development Team. An experienced enterprise educator and business advisor, he is responsible for the delivery of all enterprise and business start-up support activities, as well as advising academic colleagues on the development of enterprise in the curriculum. Graham is a double graduate of Northumbria University, with an undergraduate degree in Business Management and a Masters in Human Resource Management and Development. Prior to working in the area of knowledge exchange within Higher Education, Graham worked in the electricity supply industry for over 10 years.

 

Nita Lear

Specialist Careers Support Manager: nita.lear@northumbria.ac.uk

A careers specialist with over 20+ years of experience in Higher Education, Nita moved into the Specialist Careers Manager role to focus on two key areas, to lead the careers digital team developing delivery at scale and to lead the international mobility team with oversight of the Turing fund. Her remit also includes strategic oversight of customer service excellence, and equality and inclusion work across the service.

As an Economics graduate from Manchester University, Nita began her career in marketing and sales in the private sector, developing strong commercial and project management skills. Gaining a distinction in her Information and Library Management postgraduate qualification from Northumbria University, she took a change in direction and worked as a researcher, writer, and editor, producing reports for banks and business start-up advisers, before moving into careers information when she joined Northumbria University in 2001.

 

Victor Ottaway

Faculty Employability and Experiential Learning Manager: victor.ottaway@northumbria.ac.uk

Victor is Head of Placements and Internships, with responsibility for employer engagement and the administration associated with work experience opportunities.

He will also be the first to tell you that his remit and that of his team is much wider than just practice placements (e.g. Nursing, Physiotherapy, Education), non-practice placements and funded internships. It also covers large graduate recruiters, opportunities with small businesses and charities, part-time work and embedding employers in the University’s employability and course activities.

Prior to joining Northumbria, Victor worked across the North East region in the public, private and voluntary sectors and has a background in the management and delivery of funding and contracts especially those supporting unemployed people to address their barriers to the labour market.

Working for Northumbria University in Sandyford Building is in many ways bringing Victor full circle as he is a Northumbria Graduate who regularly attended Sandyford as a student.

Jacqui Darwood

Business Development Adviser: jacqui.darwood@northumbria.ac.uk

Jacqui joined the Graduate Futures Service as a Business Development Adviser in 2020 and specialises in building strategic partnerships that create meaningful opportunities for students and graduates. She focuses on engagement and relationship building with regional, national, and international organisations to generate experiential learning opportunities for students and successful employment outcomes for graduates. 

She brings substantial client-side experience from account management and sales roles with several national and international blue-chip brands, which informs her collaborative approach to partnership development. Known for her emotional intelligence and ability to connect with diverse stakeholders, Jacqui excels at building enduring relationships.

Jacqui is the lead business contact for the following sectors: Business, Management, Finance, Retail, Sales, Energy and Environment, Public Services, Journalism, Communications, PR and Education.

 

 

Lee Allen

Business Development Adviser: lee2.allen@northumbria.ac.uk

Lee is a Business Development Adviser within the Enterprise Development Team. Lee’s primary focus is to generate experiential learning opportunities to support the employability development of Northumbria students and graduates. This involves building relationships with external businesses to source employment opportunities (graduate roles, placements and internships), projects (live briefs, consultancy) and industry input to events (both in-curricular and extra-curricular). Representing the Graduate Futures service, Lee initiates and develops relationships with the academic community and internal colleagues and with regional, national and international recruiters to strengthen stakeholder relationships. 

Lee is the lead business contact for the following sector areas: Design, Film, TV and Media, Health and Social Care, IT, Tech, Digital and Marketing, Property and Construction, Supply Chain, Transport and Logistics and Sport Leisure and Hospitality. 

Lee’s previous role of Employability Coordinator included managing and sourcing placements for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, and cultivating relationships within the healthcare, science, education and charities/volunteering sectors. Lee graduated with a First-Class degree in BA (Hons) Business Management and most recently a PGCert in Strategic Leadership following a Degree Apprenticeship programme at Northumbria University.

 

 

Michael Peeke-Vout

Business Development Adviser: Michael.Peeke-Vout@northumbria.ac.uk

Michael works as part of the Graduate Futures team as a Business Development Advisor, working to develop relationships between Northumbria and the business community. As a former Northumbria University Computer Science student, he has extensive experience in project management with a focus on digital transformation within the North-East business sector. He co-founded a successful software development company whilst studying at Northumbria, establishing the company as a leading market choice for flagship clients such as the DfE.

He currently represents nearly 2000 North-East based businesses, as part of the management for a business led forum as a digital specialist. Having previously worked in business support, he has secured over a million pounds of matched grant funding for SME's within the North-East.

Michael’s is lead business contact for the following sector areas: Design, Engineering and Manufacturing, Energy, Environment and Natural Sciences, Property and Construction, Entrepreneurship, Legal Services and Law Firms, Public Sector.

Lee Longstaff

Enterprise Adviser: lee2.longstaff@northumbria.ac.uk

Lee joined Northumbria University in March 2021 as Enterprise Adviser within Graduate Futures. A graduate of Sunderland University, Lee has more than 20 years’ experience in the business support sector gained with local enterprise agencies PNE and TEDCO. In 2019, Lee was named one of the Top Ten Business Advisors in the UK by Enterprise Nation. Working closely with colleagues across different teams as well as external mentors, Lee’s role involves providing advice and guidance to start-up and established businesses.

Lauren Denley

Enterprise Coordinator: lauren.denley@northumbria.ac.uk

Lauren has worked in the Student and Graduate Enterprise Team since 2022 as an Enterprise Coordinator, providing initial mentoring to students and graduates wishing to start-up a business or a freelance career. Prior to joining the team, Lauren graduated from Northumbria University with a Business and Economics undergraduate degree. She then worked in the Economic Development team at Gateshead Council, working as both an Enterprise Advisor supporting residents wishing to start a business and then as a Project Manager of an ERDF grant for local SME’s.

Practice Placements

Shane Green

Employability Administrator

Shane joined the Practice Placements team in July 2009 after graduating with a Degree in Human Resource Management. During his time with the team, Shane continued his studies by completing a Post Graduate Certificate in Professional Practice at Northumbria University. Shane is an Employability Administrator in the Practice Placement team within Placements & Internships. In his role, Shane provides administrative assistance to the team whilst being a first point of contact to provide support to students, colleagues, and external stakeholders. In line with professional body requirements, Shane is responsible for allocating 2-week nursing spoke placements, coordinating international electives and Erasmus nursing placements.

Stuart Hotchkin

Employability Administrator

Stuart is an Employability Administrator providing administrative support in the Practice Placements team, particularly supporting Social Work, Operating Department Practice (ODP), Adult Apprenticeships (open programme) and Return to Practice programmes. He supports students, staff and Practice Placement Facilitators on relevant placement systems and processes. 

Michael McGovern

Employability Administrator

Michael is an Employability Administrator in the Placements & Internships team. Before moving to the Graduate Futures service in July 2021, he worked in various teams at Coach Lane for 16 years. Michael’s current responsibilities include support for Placements staff and student related placement coordination.

Natalie Pickup

Employability Coordinator

Natalie started at Northumbria University in 2005 within the Practice Placements team. Natalie has coordinated placements for many programmes within Health & Life Sciences including: Social Work, Adult Nursing, Child Nursing, Operating Department Practitioner, Return to Practice Programme and make up time/completions. Natalie has experience in reviewing and developing systems and was involved in developing the ARC Placement Management system for the Social Work Programme working collaboratively with other HEI’s in the UK. Current responsibilities include coordinating Social Work and Operating Department Practitioner placements, reviewing and developing systems/processes and liaising with Employer/Placement Providers.

Chris Shepherd

Practice Learning Adviser

Chris is a Practice Learning Adviser and joined Northumbria as an apprentice in 2008 and has worked within many services and faculties at the University. Chris currently oversees the coordination of all practice placement activity for Nursing, Midwifery, Allied Health, Education and Social Work. 

Neena Reynolds

Employability Administrator

Neena joined the practice placements team in March 2024 following 20 years in an events management role at a local commercial law firm. She is an Employability Administrator in the team and provides day to day administrative support..

Kevin Sugden

Employability Coordinator

Kevin has worked in the Practice Placements team for over 20 years based mainly at Coach Lane Campus and has a wide range of knowledge relating to Healthcare and Primary Education placement provision and has provided support across these programmes during this time.  Since becoming Employability Coordinator in 2019 he currently manages placements for students on the Occupational Therapy and Primary ITE programmes and enjoys the challenges that arranging placements brings. Kevin works full-time - Monday to Friday.

 

Non-Practice Placements

Julia Bennett

Work Experience Operations and Approvals Specialist

Julia oversees day-to-day operations of the team working on non-practice placements, and the development of the University NU:Opportunities scheme. Julia has over 23 years of experience in careers services in the HE Sector and before moving across to the work experience focused role, specialised in managing and developing relationships with student and graduate recruiters.

 

Madeleine Day

Employability Coordinator

Madeleine is an Employability Coordinator in the Placements & Internships team, in this role, she oversees the Placement administration across 2 of our facilities, Health and Wellbeing and Science and Environment specialising the following schools, School of Geography and Natural Sciences (Sciences only),  School of Psychology, School of Communities and Education and the School of Healthcare and Nursing (Health and Social care only) Prior to working at Northumbria University, she worked in the career’s services at Newcastle University and the Oxford Saïd Business School. She is a graduate from the University of Reading in History and English Literature.

  

 Monika Matulionyte

Employability Coordinator

Monika is an Employability Coordinator within the Placements and Internships team. In this role, she oversees the Placements administration across the Schools of Architecture and Built Environment; Computer Science; Engineering, Physics and Mathematics and Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation.  She is also responsible for development and troubleshooting of JobsOnline and organisation of the University's Career Fairs. Prior to this role, Monika has worked at Newcastle University Business School, organising extracurricular employability activities and providing informational careers support for students. She is a Northumbria University graduate, having completed MSc in Occupational and Organisational Psychology.

 

Annette Robson

Employability Administrator

Annette Robson works in the Placements & Internships team of Graduate Futures. She has worked in Placements for a number of years and enjoys the role immensely. Annette offers administrative support and has extensive knowledge in the associated systems. along with other members of the team assists with employer enquiries and job/placement postings/queries on our jobs online portal.  Annette finds it is very rewarding to help students on their placement journey offering support and assistance.

 

Aimee Stonehouse

Employability Coordinator

Aimee is an Employability Coordinator within the Placements & Internships team, In this role, she oversees the Placement administration across in the Faculty of Society and Culture, specialising in our Schools of Design, Arts and Creative (excluding Fashion and Design) and all courses in our School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Prior to joining Graduate Futures, Aimee worked in human resources, learning and development, and graduate recruitment. She holds a Batcher of Arts and Master of Science from Newcastle University, as well as a postgraduate diploma in HR Management and Development from Northumbria University.

 

Lee Sweeney

Employability Coordinator

Lee is an Employability Coordinator within the Placements & Internships team. In this role, he oversees the Placement administration across our Faculty of Society and Culture, specialising in the following Schools, Newcastle Business School, School of Law and our School of Design Arts & Creative Industries. Lee has worked at Northumbria University since 2007 and has been involved with placements since 2012. Lee is also a graduate of Northumbria, having studied Leadership & Management.

 

Emma Wheeler

Employability Administrator

Emma Placements & Internships team of Graduate Futures, who started at Northumbria University in September 2022, working across both Practice and Non-Practice sides within Graduate Futures. Emma offers administrative support and helps across both teams and most all faculties and Schools, assisting with all student placement related.  enquiries. Emma along with other members of the team assists with employer enquiries and job/placement postings/queries on our jobs online portal.

 

Dan Lewis

Employability Partnerships Adviser

Dan is the Employability Partnerships Adviser for Computer and Information Sciences, Geography & Environmental Sciences, Accounting and Financial Management, Education, Occupational Therapy, Public Health, Healthcare Management and all Advanced Practice Masters courses. A graduate of English from Birmingham University, Dan completed an MA in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University before working in a range of guidance roles, including student support and adult careers advice. He obtained a Postgraduate Diploma with distinction in Career Development and Coaching Studies from Warwick University in 2016 and joined Northumbria in January 2017. He currently leads on a number of projects relating to Graduate Outcomes and the usage of TEF data to inform best practice in Careers and Employability support throughout the Graduate Futures team, as well as supports the development of VR and 360 video careers resources.

 

Fiona Cairns

Progression & Employability Coordinator 

 Fiona is the Progression & Employability Coordinator for the Faculty of Science and Environment. She studied English and History at Hull University prior to undertaking an MA in Historical Research. Fiona has worked in higher education since 2007 in a variety of roles across Library and Information Services, Student Recruitment and Widening Participation. She is a fellow of the HEA and has an ILM Level 5 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring.

 

Judith Newman

Employability Administrator

 

Judith is an Employability Administrator with extensive experience in Higher Education administration following her graduation from Northumbria University with a degree in Information and Library Management. Judith offers administrative support to the team, in particular with EDI projects, and is the first point of contact for students and graduates by email. Judith’s working days are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

Julia Bennett

Work Experience Operations and Approvals Specialist

Julia oversees day-to-day operations of the team working on non-practice placements, and the development of the University NU:Opportunities scheme. Julia has over 23 years of experience in careers services in the HE Sector and before moving across to the work experience focused role, specialised in managing and developing relationships with student and graduate recruiters.

 

Kristy Taylor

Employability Coordinator

Kristy is the Employability Coordinator for Engineering and Environment. She has a degree in Linguistics with German from Newcastle University. Kristy has worked at Northumbria University for 7 years in the Placements Team before moving to Employability Partnerships. Her previous experience has been within the Student Advice Centre at Newcastle University Students’ Union. She has a particular interest in working with students and ensuring the student voice plays a pivotal role in the support we offer.

Monika Matulionyte

Experiential Learning Coordinator 

Monika is an Experiential Learning Coordinator in the Science and Environment Faculty at Northumbria University, where she oversees the placement approval process and placement compliance for the faculty. She also plays an active role in business development and client sourcing for the undergraduate Computing Consultancy module. Prior to joining Northumbria University, Monika worked at Newcastle University Business School, organising extracurricular employability activities and providing careers information and support for students. Monika is a Northumbria University graduate, having completed an MSc in Occupational and Organisational Psychology.

 

Nenagh Clark

Employability Partnerships Adviser

Nenagh is the Employability Advisor for Arts, Humanities and Psychology. She originally trained as an actor before attending university whereby she obtained a degree in English Education from Sunderland University. More recently, Nenagh completed a master’s module within Education Research, whereby she focused on the development of transferable skills within a FE curriculum. She has worked within Education for the past 16 years, as a teacher of Drama and English teacher within Secondary and Further Education. She then moved roles whereby she primarily supported the development of teaching and learning and providing professional development for teaching practitioners. Nenagh has had experience of leading projects with students and academics within the university which look at how experiential learning can develop employability skills.

Andy Fishburn

Employability Partnerships Adviser

Andy is the Employability Partnership Adviser working with the Applied Science and Law departments. He has a BSc (Hons) in Sports Science from the University of Chester and a Postgraduate Diploma in Careers Guidance. Prior to joining Northumbria University in the summer of 2015, Andy worked at the University of Sunderland within the business school and the careers service. He has also worked for the National Careers Service and within the FE sector.

Anna Butcher

Employability Partnerships Adviser

As an Employability Partnership Adviser Anna supports programmes across the Departments of Nursing and Midwifery and Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing. With a degree in History and some training in marketing, an interest in working with young people led her to study the Diploma in Careers Guidance (LGMB) at Huddersfield University before working for Barnsley Council, then Northumberland County Council as a Careers Adviser supporting local Schools. She joined Durham University Careers Service in 1997, moving to Northumbria in 2005. With a Postgraduate Diploma in Career Education, Information and Guidance in Higher Education and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Anna has many years’ experience individually supporting students and graduates, and designing, delivering and supporting employability education in the Higher Education sector.

Dan Lewis

Employability Partnerships Adviser

Dan is the Employability Partnerships Adviser for Computer and Information Sciences, Geography & Environmental Sciences, Accounting and Financial Management, Education, Occupational Therapy, Public Health, Healthcare Management and all Advanced Practice Masters courses. A graduate of English from Birmingham University, Dan completed an MA in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University before working in a range of guidance roles, including student support and adult careers advice. He obtained a Postgraduate Diploma with distinction in Career Development and Coaching Studies from Warwick University in 2016 and joined Northumbria in January 2017. He currently leads on a number of projects relating to Graduate Outcomes and the usage of TEF data to inform best practice in Careers and Employability support throughout the Graduate Futures team, as well as supports the development of VR and 360 video careers resources.

Eve Smith

Employability Partnerships Adviser

Eve is the Employability Partnerships Adviser for programmes in the Business School. Eve has worked for the University since 2015 and has experience supporting students with placements and employability but has also worked in Organisational Development and People Experience within HR. Eve has a degree from Leeds Beckett University in Events Management and has also achieved a Fellowship in HEA and ILM Level 5 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring.

Fiona Cairns

Employability Coordinator

 
Fiona is the Employability Coordinator for Law and Business. She studied English and History at Hull University prior to undertaking an MA in Historical Research. Fiona has worked in higher education since 2007 in a variety of roles across Library and Information Services, Student Recruitment and Widening Participation. She joined Northumbria University in April 2022.

Kristy Taylor

Employability Coordinator

Kristy is the Employability Coordinator for Engineering and Environment. She has a degree in Linguistics with German from Newcastle University. Kristy has worked at Northumbria University for 7 years in the Placements Team before moving to Employability Partnerships. Her previous experience has been within the Student Advice Centre at Newcastle University Students’ Union. She has a particular interest in working with students and ensuring the student voice plays a pivotal role in the support we offer.

Louise Tarrant

Employability Coordinator

Louise is the Employability Coordinator for Health and Life Sciences. She is a Bachelor of Arts alumna of Northumbria University and completed her degree in BA Performance in 2012. Louise's previous experience includes Library and Information Services and International Student Recruitment at the University of York and Global Engagement at the University of Sheffield. Louise joined the Graduate Futures Team in 2020 and works Monday-Friday.

Madelaine Fallow

Employability Coordinator

Madelaine is Employability Coordinator for Arts, Design, Humanities and Social Sciences. She is a graduate of Northumbria University and went on to work in arts and events and then worked in Primary Education. She returned to the university to work in the Student Progress Team in 2019 before joining Graduate Futures in 2020. In addition to her current role, Madelaine is a Facilitator in Northumbria’s Parent & Carer Network.

Mark Grant

Employability Partnerships Adviser

Mark is the Employability Partnerships Adviser for Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation, Design and Social Sciences departments. After graduating with a degree in BSc (Hons) Sports Science from Northumbria, Mark undertook a PGCE in Physical Education before spending time in Australia, working as a sports and fitness coach.

Returning to Northumbria in 2009, Mark has since worked across various teams – supporting international partner institutions, short courses for international students and study abroad/Erasmus schemes. His most recent role was Placement Coordinator within the Business & Law faculty, delivering employability focused events and employer lead projects/presentations, promoting a wide variety of work experience opportunities to students.

Nenagh Clark

Employability Partnerships Adviser

Nenagh is the Employability Advisor for Arts, Humanities and Psychology. She originally trained as an actor before attending university whereby she obtained a degree in English Education from Sunderland University. More recently, Nenagh completed a master’s module within Education Research, whereby she focused on the development of transferable skills within a FE curriculum. She has worked within Education for the past 16 years, as a teacher of Drama and English teacher within Secondary and Further Education. She then moved roles whereby she primarily supported the development of teaching and learning and providing professional development for teaching practitioners. Nenagh has had experience of leading projects with students and academics within the university which look at how experiential learning can develop employability skills.

Andy Garton

Employability Coordinator

Andy has worked at Northumbria University since 2000 and has been working in International Mobility since 2007 as coordinator on the University-wide staff and student exchange programmes, specialising in the semester and year-long student exchanges.  Since 2014 he has been a leading user in the University of the MoveON mobility software and works with the MoveON UK and Ireland user group as well as sharing MoveON best practice and training across regional, national and international groups.  He graduated from Newcastle University with a BA (Hons) German with French & Dutch degree and spent a year of that degree living in Germany and France.

 

Lucy Armstrong

Employability Coordinator

Lucy joined Northumbria in 2014 working in the International Development Office.  Joining the international mobility team in 2015 supporting students studying abroad as part of their degree.  Lucy moved to Research and Innovation Services and onto Transnational Education before rejoining the international mobility team in 2022.  She is the University’s Turing Coordinator and supports all students on international mobility experiences with a main focus on international short programmes for current students and recent graduates.

 

Mark Lee

Careers Adviser

Mark supports students across all faculties in his role in the Graduate Futures service and started working at Northumbria University in December 2018. Trained to postgraduate level in Careers Guidance, Mark has worked in varied sectors in both operational and management roles across the UK and internationally. As a careers adviser, Mark has worked in multiple careers services in the North East supporting school-leavers, university students and adult job-seekers.

Mark also holds a BA(Hons) in Education and a teaching qualification and from this has led many careers education initiatives, winning awards for innovative career and student voice events and was shortlisted as an AGCAS Newcomer of the Year to university careers services, in the UK in 2020.

 

Rob Mulligan

Employability Coordinator

Rob is an Employability Co-ordinator who has worked in a variety of roles within  Careers and Employment since joining in 1999. He graduated in English Studies from Northumbria University as a mature student and followed with a Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Writing and MSc Information Studies. He has responsibility for digital content and delivery. 

Rob has worked in a number of roles from laboratory technician to industrial labourer. He ran his own business, a vegetarian cafe, for three years and has worked as a voluntary tutor of adult literacy.