Our academic team

Sue has been working as Head of Academic Development at the University of Liverpool since 2017.  She holds a PhD relevant to the field of professional learning in higher education. 

She is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and in 2024 she was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship – as well as a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence as a member of the Liverpool Online team. Also, in 2021 Sue led the University of Liverpool’s Academic Development department to be recognised as finalists for a Global Academic Good Practice Award. 

Prior to coming to the UK, Sue taught in various schools, colleges, and universities across Western Australia. She gained several accolades, including Fellow of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (FHERDSA); and a Vice Chancellor’s Award for Innovation and Excellence.

Ida has over 25 years’ experience working in university programme development, enhancement, and management. She is recognised as a Senior Fellow of Advanced HE. 

Prior to joining Kaplan Open Learning, Ida held positions at the University of Sheffield, University of Leeds, and York St John University – as well as providing consultancy at other institutions such as The Open University. She has worked across a range of disciplines in her roles – including on multi-subject, interdisciplinary, and combined honours courses.

Most recently, Ida has led on a series of interdisciplinary learning and teaching conferences which explore pedagogic approaches and practices related to interdisciplinary programmes of study. She has experience in student support and understands how different learning platforms can support the student learning journey.

Floriana has been at the University of Liverpool since 1998 and even helped to launch the very first online master’s degrees in 2000. 

She holds a Bachelors degree in Informatics from the University of Bari, Italy; as well as a PhD from Herriott Watt University in Edinburgh.

Floriana is a proud member of the Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and the Simulation of Behaviour. She is also co-founder of the Journal of Argument and Computation, co-chair of a series of conferences on digital public health, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Leszek has almost a decade’s experience in academia and the education industry. He gained a PhD from the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, in collaboration with Yahoo Research, Aberdeen University, and the Open University.

Following the completion of his PhD, Leszek went on to work on some of Europe’s largest research and innovation programmes – collaborating with various industry leaders. One of these projects involved ocean monitoring, planetary exploration, and improvements for electric vehicles. Leszek also researched and developed some of the key technologies in underwater, unmanned vehicles.

Leszek’s research interests relate to artificial intelligence, robotics, information retrieval, the internet of things, computer vision, and computer games development.

Since joining the University of Liverpool’s Law School as a Senior Tutor, Joseph progressed to Associate Dean of Education and now serves a Senior Lecturer and Director of Studies for the online LLM programme. 

Joseph is also a member of the University’s Cybersecurity Institute – presenting internationally on privacy, data protection, and emerging technologies. He serves on the IEEE panel and was a panel member for Age-Appropriate Design Code. In 2024, he delivered a keynote presentation on ‘ChatGPT in Legal Practice: A Critical Assessment of Where we Stand’ at the Faculty of Law, MMU (Melaka) during the Digital Futures International Congress. 

Joseph holds a Bachelors degree from Lancaster University, an LLM in International Business Law from the University of Manchester, and a Legal Practice Course qualification. 

Aref has over 12 years’ experience in UK higher education. Known for his passion for innovative teaching methods, he actively integrates Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) to deliver engaging and impactful education experiences. 

Aref has also practiced in two jurisdictions in the Middle East, specialising in business law and providing legal services to a diverse range of commercial entities. He holds an LLB, LLM, and a Graduate Diploma in Law, and his research interests include banking and international commercial law.

With a strong combination of academic expertise and professional experience, Aref remains dedicated to advancing the quality of postgraduate legal education. 

Chloe is the Director of Studies for Digital Marketing and a Lecturer in Marketing at the University of Liverpool Management School. As well as overseeing the online programme, she also takes on various on-campus roles and responsibilities spanning teaching, assessment, and scholarship.

Chloe has taught across a broad range of topics and year groups, including leading modules on digital marketing, services marketing, and market research. Her own research interests centre on service access and engagement for disadvantaged groups, including the potential for digital technologies to either exacerbate or alleviate inequalities.

Rob is proud to develop and manage the online Finance and Investment Management MSc at the University. He began his career with a Barclays graduate programme, on which he developed a broad range of skills in management accounting, financial group reporting, and treasury risk management – as well as qualifying as an accountant. 

Having been inspired to teach due to the high quality and professionalism of the training he received, in 1997 Rob joined professional exams training company BPP. He later set up his own private company while continuing to teach at BPP. 

After deciding to leave the private sector, Rob joined the University of Liverpool in 2017. He specialises in teaching management accounting and financial management.

Ali has been leading online graduate programmes in human resource management since 2019 and is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE.

Prior to joining the University, she spent 15 years working for charities and within the local government, including 12 years as a manager. It was while studying for her own MBA that she decided to undertake a part-time PhD in manager identity, which eventually led to her becoming a full-time lecturer. 

Identity, and the role of creativity and imagination, remain key themes in Ali’s research interests. She is currently working on several projects around the potential of poetry and other forms of creativity – such as drawing – within management.

Anindita joined the University of Liverpool Management School in January 2024, as a lecturer within the Work, Organisation, and Management group. 

After completing her doctoral studies in management, she took on the position of Senior Research Associate at Lancaster University. While in this role, she worked on the Horizon 2020 research project – MobileAge – and produced research for the Productivity Insights Network. 

Anindita has taught both in the UK and Hong Kong; prior to joining the University of Liverpool, she lectured at Sheffield Hallam University. She most enjoys teaching aspects of organisational change management and global human resource management. She is also proud to be an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy UK. 

David has several years’ experience in both teaching and research in higher education. As well as being Director of Studies for the online Management programme, he also serves as Senior Lecturer for Entrepreneurship. 

David is an active scholar in education and entrepreneurship, having had over 30 publications in journals, books, and conference outputs. He has also served as a guest editor for the International Journal of Action Learning: Research and Practice and currently serves as an associate editor of the International Journal of Management Education. 

He is also a Board Member to the European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship; Track Chair for the newly developed Research, Methods, Practice, and Inquiry/Impact (RMPI) track; and holds a position on the British Academy of Management Research Methods Special Interest Group steering community. 

Lisa joined the University of Liverpool in 2016. Prior to working in higher education, she had a successful career in strategy and management within the retail, banking, and telecom sectors. 

Lisa holds an MBA from Cranfield University; an MA in Learning and Teaching for Higher Education; and a PhD from the University of Bath, which she gained in 2017. Her research work on strategic change has been published in several academic journals, including Organisation Studies. 

Lisa is proud to have received numerous awards for teaching excellence – including a University Learning and Teaching Fellowship; and a Faculty Learning and Teaching and Student Experience Award. She is also a recognised Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Jennifer has been in her current position since 2022. She holds an MSc in Operations and Supply Chain Management, and a PhD in Supply Chain Technologies and Sustainability. 

During her time at the University, she has helped gain Association for Project Management (APM) accreditation for the MSc programme. She also led the University’s participation in the Airbus Project Management AI Challenge, where her student team won the UK final and were placed second internationally. 

Jennifer has also taken on the role of Project Co-Lead for MusicFutures. As well as this, she is an active member of the APM North West Network, the Textile Institute,  and recipient of the University of Liverpool Learning and Teaching Fellowship Award 2024/25.

Elspeth is responsible for the University of Liverpool’s online management programmes. She has over 30 years’ teaching and research experience, and holds a BA Hons in Business Studies and a PG Cert in online education. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and member of the editorial board for Leadership in Health Services. 

Prior to her academic career, Elspeth worked in the NHS, and the financial and consulting industries, before becoming a lecturer at Henley Business School. She was also a visiting lecturer at the University of Surrey and Kingston University, and conducted data collection for her PhD at the University of Georgia, USA. She is also a trained facilitator.

Elspeth’s research interests include online faculty competencies, leadership, innovation, and virtual learning teams. She has also carried out extensive research and written over 50 academic journals, books, and conference papers.

John has over 25 years’ experience in education as a lecturer and manager, having worked for colleges and universities in Scotland, England, and the UAE. Prior to joining the University of Liverpool, he acted as Subject Lead for Business at INTO University of Stirling, where he won the student-nominated RATE award for Best Teacher and worked on a paper titled Lecturer as Creator. 

He holds an MSc in Marketing from the University of South Wales, CIM membership, and Fellowships with the HEA, CMI, the Saltire Foundation, and the RSA. He is a member of the advisory panel for the Harvard Business Review and has academic interests in entrepreneurship, marketing, football management, economics, and social media. 

Away from work, John enjoys spending time with his family in his hometown of Glasgow. He also likes walking, watching sports, and travelling. He runs an occasional cider blog and is currently writing a book on starting a business.

Jennifer holds an MA in Strategic PR, a Postgraduate Diploma in Coaching, and a PhD focussing on cross-cultural learning. 
Prior to academia, Jennifer gained extensive experience in recruitment and organisational development. This included devising the strategy and operational delivery mechanisms as Head of Human Resource Development in a multinational organisation. She also qualified as a business coach and ran her own SME. She has worked with Dr Meredith Belbin – creator of Belbin Team Roles – and is adept at building strong working relationships with key figures in both HR and healthcare. 

Jennifer is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), and a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD). She has also won a Faculty Teaching Award for her high-quality teaching, embedding employability into the curriculum. 

A physiotherapist by profession, Susan has been Director of Postgraduate Education at the University of Liverpool’s School of Medicine since 2019. She holds an MA in Healthcare Law and an MPhil from the University of Manchester, and is currently continuing her doctoral work in postgraduate international education and practice. 

Prior to this, she worked in several executive higher education and healthcare roles. The key to her success was the engagement of others and making collaborative partnerships work.

Susan has also worked in overseas partnerships – engaging with universities and healthcare organisations to create education that meets the needs of today’s diverse range of students, leaders and practitioners.

Vickie has extensive experience in public health, oncology research, and online programme development. She holds a BSc in Applied Biology, a PGCE, and a PhD. The latter involved investigating novel therapies for drug-resistant tumours. 

Following her doctoral studies, Vickie went on to work as an oncology lecturer and clinical research coordinator in the NHS.

Vickie formally joined the University in 2012 as a a lecturer in Public Health, and a research fellow in health research for the Liverpool Reviews and Information Group. She has been Director of Studies for the online Master of Public Health (MPH) programme since 2015. She is also Chair of the Board of Examiners for the FHLS online programmes and is committed to advancing education in public health. She is proud to have achieved Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). 

Ranjit has over 25 years’ experience in senior academia. He has also worked as a Senior Health Promotion Specialist (Sexual Health), Community Development Manager, and Patient and Public Involvement Lead. 

His areas of expertise span public health promotion, healthcare leadership, health needs assessment, health policy analysis, and qualitative research methods. 

Ranjit is also Director of the UK Public Health Register, Vice-Chair of the Registration Panel, and a specialist portfolio assessor and external examiner of public health programmes. He is recognised as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health; a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy; and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement for Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce.

Victoria has been a valued member of the University of Liverpool since 2016. She holds a BSc in Psychology, an MSc in Mental Health Studies, and a PhD in Psychology. 

Victoria has taken on multiple leadership roles within the University and has been instrumental in the expansion and accreditation of the online postgraduate psychology programmes. Her research and teaching focuses on psychosis, stigma, and mental health inequalities, and she is passionate about integrating research-led teaching into her curriculum design. She also advocates for inclusive and accessible mental health education as an elected member of the University of Liverpool Senate.

Victoria has received several accolades, including the Teacher of the Year award from the Liverpool Guild of Students. She is a Chartered Psychologist, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society.

Sarah completed her Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology at Staffordshire University in 2018. She is a Chartered Health Psychologist and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. 

Her research interests include infant feeding and support for first-time mothers, and she has published journal articles relating to substance misuse and smoking cessation. She has experience in creating and delivering teaching sessions, and the design and delivery of online programmes. 

Her role involves offering academic support and management for the University’s online Psychology MSc. She is committed to ensuring students receive a high-level education experience, by managing and maintaining academic quality standards in line with policies and procedures.