I am a community focused leader and academic dedicated to strengthening the creative industries through strategic innovation, educational excellence, and meaningful collaboration. My work spans community engagement, university and industry partnerships, and institution building within higher education. My employment history spans Higher Education and the Creative & Cultural Industries in UK, Spain and New Zealand. I have previously held leadership positions as Associate Professor and Head of the School of Design and Visual Arts at Unitec Institute of Technology in Auckland, New Zealand, and as well as running start-up studios I was Design Director and co -founding partner of furniture and product design and manufacturing company RDS Solutions, London. 

I am currently leading the development of the Sheffield Creative Industries Institute (SCII), shaping its mission, vision and long-term strategy to drive creative sector growth, research impact, and regional regeneration. I also contribute to national benchmarking for UK creative disciplines and recruitment strategies for our creative courses.

My leadership extends to sector wide development through my work with CHEAD (the Council for Higher Education in Art & Design) and major cultural ecosystem initiatives such as the Sheffield Culture Collective. Through these roles, I collaborate with partners to strengthen cultural infrastructure, support talent pathways, and champion the role of creativity in shaping inclusive and resilient places.

I have a deep and long-standing belief in Sheffield and South Yorkshire as a hotbed of creativity and creative talent. I am committed to supporting the city and region, its creatives, organisations, communities, and emerging talent, by helping build the conditions in which creativity can thrive, contribute to economic vitality, and enhance cultural life.

My work is driven by a conviction that creativity transforms communities and creates opportunity. I bring experience in strategic planning, cross sector partnership building, curriculum development, and leadership across creative and community networks.

I’m always open to conversations about collaboration, knowledge exchange, and forward thinking approaches to creative education and innovation.