I direct and coordinate the Eastern Arc Academic Research Consortium. Eastern Arc brings together the universities of East Anglia, Essex and Kent to facilitate collaboration, the sharing of equipment, resources and other skills and knowledge.

My Background

I have been working in research management for more than fifteen years. Before becoming Director of Eastern Arc I was Deputy Director of Research Services at the University of Kent, and was responsible for the research development team. I worked strategically to maximise the University's research income and its research culture more broadly.

Before coming to Kent I worked for the Arts and Humanities Research Council, so have an understanding of and insight into research funding from both sides of the fence.

I continue to engage widely within the sector, including leading conference sessions at ARMA and EARMA, and workshops put on by individual universities such as Coventry (on impact) and Open (on interdisciplinarity). As part of this I write the Research Fundermentals blog, which has been the touchstone of background intelligence, insight and humour for the UK research community since 2009.

In recognition of this role it was awarded the ARMA Award for Technological Innovation and Application in 2016, and I was listed as one of the Top 50 Higher Education Social Media Influencers by Jisc in 2015.

As well as this I have written for a range of outlets, including a monthly column for Research Professional’s Funding Insight, and guest articles such as those on the f1000 and Piirus blogs. I undertook a secondment as an editor for Research Professional between 2017-18, and continue to have close ties with them.