Born in England's west country I took undergraduate and doctoral degrees at the University of Cambridge (MA History, PhD in institutional economics/economic history [Emmanuel College for both]) before lecturing in economics/economic history in Scotland (Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh), running research projects in England and subsequently moving into consultancy and government economics as an economist (Cabinet Office), and running a variety of higher education and vocational educational reform projects in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. I then returned to academia, directing the CPD Centre at the University of Oxford (and Fellow of Kellogg College) before moving to Middlesex University in London, where I am currently Pro Vice Chancellor and Director, Knowledge Transfer. I sit on a variety of company and charity boards. I'm an avid art collector (British 18th/19th watercolours and drawings) who spends far too much money on paintings. I live in Berkshire, which is too close to London and too far from 'Wessex proper'.