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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 for Impact, IP and Commercialisation  

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 Delivery and Compliance / RIS Lead for REF2029

a.poole@northumbria.ac.uk

Andrew is Head of the Research Delivery 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 Research Development

jessica.holmes@northumbria.ac.uk

Jess is the Head of Research Development 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 Culture and Integrity

laura.hutchinson2@northumbria.ac.uk

Laura is the Head of Research Culture and Integrity and currently heading up the Research Ethics and Integrity, Research Information and Systems, and Research Culture teams within the Research Policy team. Laura works with the team to support the delivery of our ethics policy, HRA and NHS Sponsorship process and compliance with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity; the development of the Research Culture Action plan and activity to support its delivery; and research information systems development and support. Laura's substantive post is Research Ethics and Integrity Manager.

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 Impact Team supports researchers to make a difference from their research in the world beyond the University. The KTP Managers support Northumbria’s KTP engagement, providing programme information, enquiry guidance, input to applications and support during project delivery. The IP Commercialisation Team supports with exploitation of research outputs (Intellectual Property) typically where there is a commercial opportunity.  You can read more and reach out to individual team members below.

Research Impact Team

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)

 

Alisha Peart

Research Impact Manager 

alisha.peart@northumbria.ac.uk

Alisha is an experienced programme manager, grant development manager, and now a research impact specialist. Alisha jointly led the transformative change in the research impact culture at Northumbria University, culminating in the outstanding success for Northumbria in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework Assessment. Alisha leads the Research Impact, Policy and Public Engagement and KTP Teams, developing and implementing strategies to support Knowledge Exchange, grow Public and Policy Engagement and increase the impact of Northumbria’s Research. Alisha has a national and international profile for sector-leading expertise in Research Impact. She is the Impact Special Interest Group Co-Lead for the Association of Impact Managers and Administrators (ARMA), she has presented at several national/international conferences and delivered training on behalf of ARMA and is also an ESRC panel reviewer. Alisha has co-authored a research publication on writing REF Impact Case Studies and book chapter in book published September 2022 (.

 

Lucy Moorcraft

Impact and Engagement Officer

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 ���ϲ�����. 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 ���ϲ����� 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.

 

Policy and Engagement Team

The Policy and Engagement Team is led by Lucy Jowett. It provides specialisms in policy, public and community engagement, aiming to facilitate Northumbria’s contribution to research-informed policymaking and high-quality public and community engagement. The team works in partnership with colleagues from the universities of UCL, Cambridge, Manchester, and Nottingham as part of the Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) project, as well as colleagues across Northumbria and on key institutional projects.

 

Jenny Hasenfuss

Project 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 ���ϲ����� 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

Policy Project Officer

claire.s.hutchinson@northumbria.ac.uk

Claire is a Policy Project 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.

 

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)

KTPs are a UKRI/Innovate UK collaborative research programme. Northumbria has a structured approach to handling KTP enquiries, funding applications, and project management which is aligned to funder requirements.

 

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.ward@northumbria.ac.uk

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.

 

IP Commercialisation Team

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
• Support finding licensees
• Give business support to create a company
• Advise on IP and exploitation sections in bids or other complex IP situations

���ϲ����� Statement on the UK Government’s Independent Review of University Spinout Companies

Following the publication of the on 21st November 2023, ���ϲ����� 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.

 

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 ���ϲ�����.

 

Elspeth MacDonald

IP Commercialisation Coordinator

elspeth.macdonald@northumbria.ac.uk

Elspeth supports the IP Commercialisation Managers and focuses on managing the University's patent portfolio.

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.baxter@northumbria.ac.uk

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.agnew@northumbria.ac.uk

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. 

Jack Grummitt

PGR Coordinator (Graduate School)

j.grummitt@northumbria.ac.uk

Jack looks after the Professional Support aspect of PGR students aligned to the Faculty of Engineering and Environment and coordinates 75% of the cohort. 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. Jack also co-ordinates projects such as the PGR Training Programme, Recruitment and Marketing, Conference Bursaries, and leads on communications.

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.jukes@northumbria.ac.uk

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.

Li Chin Khor

PGR Coordinator (Graduate school)

li.khor@northumbria.ac.uk

Li provides professional support to the Engineering and Environment based UKRI CDT/DTPs, such as EPSRC ReNU, STFC NUdata, NERC ONE Planet & STFC (and aligned students) and works more widely to support Graduate School related activities for the CDT/DTP and aligned students. 

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.

James Clay

Graduate School Administrator

james.clay@northumbria.ac.uk

Alongside the other administrators in the Graduate School, James oversees the PGR examination process, including the organisation of viva voce exams and any related activities. James also assists with organising and running the University’s annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition.

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.

Tanjina Rahman

Graduate School Administrator

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.

The RIS Worktribe and Oracle Implementation Team is working with colleagues in IT, Finance and HR to introduce new pre- and post-award research management systems to Northumbria. Worktribe is a cloud-based software platform designed specifically for UK Higher Education and is currently used by 46 HEIs, including Edinburgh, Durham, Imperial, Nottingham, UCL, York and Birmingham.  The pre-award module provides a platform for developing complex grants involving multiple parties and costing and pricing scenarios.  Oracle Projects forms part of the Oracle Fusion ERP system which will, when fully implemented, manage all of Northumbria’s HR, procurement, finance and externally funded projects.

Kelly Wilkinson

Research Delivery Coordinator

kelly.wilkinson@northumbria.ac.uk

Kelly is currently seconded to the Oracle Implementation team, working with colleagues from IT, Finance and Oracle Consulting, designing and testing the project management functionality of the ERP system. She is also manging the migration of project data from our current finance system SAP to ensure a seamless transfer when the new system goes live. She has created multiple 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.