Celebrating outstanding service

Gary started working at Teesside Polytechnic in March 1985 in the Computer Centre CAD Unit on a six-month contract. He was made permanent on the condition that he completed a Higher National Diploma, which he did. His role involved managing the Apollo computer network.

Gary joined the Department of Engineering for a short time and was seconded to the Design Department one day a week, where he continued to manage the Apollo computers. He later moved to the School of Computing & Mathematics as a research programmer/technician. Being the dedicated person he is, Gary also completed the MSc Computer Aided Graphical Technology Applications course over two years.

In 1997, Gary moved from the School to the Virtual Reality Centre, a commercial unit where he worked with Janice Webster until 2004. He returned to the School, which was then called the School of Information Engineering. Gary continues to use his graphical expertise, developing motion capture systems and supporting the use of various data capture systems.

Kay's remarkable 40-year career at Teesside University began in the mid-1980s, and her passion for nursing and education has been the driving force behind her significant contributions to both fields.

Throughout her time at Teesside, Kay has not only educated a substantial number of nursing students but also played a crucial role in advancing nursing education and the nursing profession. Kay's involvement in pre-registration nursing courses has been extensive, ensuring that new generations of nurses are well prepared for their careers. Additionally, she has led the Return to Practice course, which has been instrumental in welcoming back those who had left the nursing profession. Her efforts have ensured that returning nurses are suitably skilled and ready to rejoin the workforce, thereby addressing critical gaps in the nursing field.

Most recently, Kay served as the co-course leader for the Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeship. Her knowledge and expertise have been pivotal in the development, enrichment and successful running of this course.

In 1985, Martyn joined the Chemical Engineering Department in what was then Teesside Polytechnic. During his tenure, Martyn witnessed the transformation from the Polytechnic to the University of today.

He has witnessed the progression from the Engineering department that he first joined into separate Schools and their transitioning over time. The School of Science & Technology became the School of Science and Engineering (SSE) before being joined by Design (SSED). The last transformation brought the School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies as it is now.

Martyn has remained in touch with several colleagues from throughout his 40 years here. He remains a highly valued and experienced member of the engineering technician team.

Emma began working at Teesside in 2000. In the early part of her career, she saw the introduction of the University's first virtual learning environment – Blackboard – and was part of the E-learning team that supported colleagues in its use.

Throughout her Teesside University career, Emma has had a long-standing interest in accessibility and inclusivity. She currently co-chairs the University's Disability Focus Group to champion improvements for all. In 2018, Emma was part of the team which partnered with Microsoft to design and deliver the very successful Digital Development Programme prior to the launch of the Teesside Advance Scheme for the 2018/19 academic year.

More recently, in 2022, Emma was part of the Digital Transformation Team which received a prestigious global award from Anthology (formerly Blackboard) – the Anthology Catalyst Award – for the professional development programme that prepared colleagues for the move from Blackboard Learn to Blackboard Ultra.

Paul has been a crucial and integral part of the University technical team for 25 years. The vast majority of that time has been spent in the Aurora team, providing support to a range of practical courses across multiple Schools and wider University departments.

He has delivered countless sessions as a technical demonstrator in areas of film, television production, journalism, and music technology, among others. Paul has also been an essential and visible member of the in-house video crew, providing professional coverage of major University events such as Graduation, conferences, public lectures, Animex, and more – including the Star Awards. His dedication to capturing and producing high-quality content has ensured these events are showcased at the highest standard.

Beyond his technical expertise, Paul is known for his approachable nature and willingness to share his extensive knowledge with both colleagues and students. He has played a key role in mentoring new technicians, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement within the team. His ability to adapt to evolving technologies and industry standards has been invaluable, ensuring that the support provided remains cutting-edge and effective.

Michelle joined the University in 1999 as a cleaner. In 2000, she took on the role of catering assistant and in 2020, she returned to the housekeeping team as a cleaner.

Michelle has been a valued member of the team ever since and now works within student residences. She supports students and helps to resolve problems, giving them the best experience. Michelle's experience and flexibility is important in her work.

Her hard work is very much appreciated. She is an asset to the team and the University as a whole and contributes to the student experience every day.

Over the past 25 years, Nick has played a key role in shaping the 2D animation and stop-motion curriculum, inspiring generations of animators through his expertise and passion for the craft. Nick first joined Teesside to support students in mastering the principles of hand-drawn animation, laying a strong foundation for their creative and technical development. His commitment and talent led to a permanent position, where he has since taught both traditional and digital 2D animation techniques, ensuring that students receive a comprehensive education that bridges classical methods with modern industry practices.

As course leader for BA (Hons) 2D Animation and Stop-Motion, Nick continues to champion animation education, fostering a dynamic and supportive learning environment. His guidance has been instrumental in preparing students for careers in animation, with many going on to achieve success in the field.

Beyond his academic contributions, Nick's enthusiasm and willingness to support colleagues and students alike have left a lasting impact on the University community. His legacy is evident in the success of his students and the continued growth of the animation department.

Gary joined Teesside University in 2000 as a security officer and remains a valued member of the security and safety team. Gary has considerable experience in dealing with students and staff and is trained in a number of aspects including Security Industry Authority courses, first aid, mental health first aid, protests, and major incident management.

Gary works well within his team and alongside his colleagues and is always reliable and punctual. He can always be relied upon to assist when required and is positive in his work.

Outside of work, Gary is part of a football team and a choir, and he travels around the country with his teams and on event excursions.

Judith joined the University as a cleaner in 1999 and has been a valued member of the housekeeping team ever since. She works across the full breadth of buildings on the ever-expanding campus, including student residences.

Judith has a very caring nature, and this is passed along to the students in both areas of work. Her hard work is very much appreciated by the whole team.

She is an asset to the team, and the University as a whole recognises the significant contribution she makes within her role.

Dr Hannis joined Teesside University in 1999, bringing with her a wealth of experience as a registered nurse and health visitor. Her dedication to nursing and public health has been evident throughout her time here, particularly through her involvement with the Specialist Community Public Health Nurse academic team and her significant contributions to the pre-registration nursing course.

Dr Hannis' true passion lies in public health and global health, with a special focus on transcultural nursing health. She is a staunch advocate for the idea that nursing practice should respect cultural differences and similarities to provide quality care for people of all backgrounds. Her commitment to this principle has been a guiding force in her career, influencing both her teaching and her practice. Most recently, Dr Hannis co-authored a book titled LGBTQ+ Healthy Ageing: How Queer History Impacts Healthy Ageing, highlighting her dedication to equality, diversity, and inclusivity in healthcare.

As an integral part of the public health team in the School of Health & Life Sciences, Dr Hannis has supervised numerous doctoral students to successful completion. Her guidance and expertise have been invaluable, and her contributions to the field are reflected in her many published articles and conference presentations.

Joining the University as a personal assistant/administrator to the Director of Planning & Management Services to cover maternity leave in 2000, Judith has held a variety of administrative roles under the remit of Quality, University Secretary's Department, Academic Registry, and currently Legal & Governance Services. Judith has seen many changes within the University and has supported numerous initiatives with her wealth of experience, knowledge, and corporate memory.

Aside from her day-to-day administrative duties including the management of the department's financial controls and records, Judith has supported the transition of a number of office relocations across campus, working with relevant project managers and making sure that her colleagues have all IT and associated equipment in place with minimum disruption.

Judith is a popular member of the department, and the wider University community, and has made a significant contribution to the success and operation of various administrative teams over the last 25 years.

Paula joined the University as a purchase ledger clerk in Finance and moved to become a sales ledger clerk, progressing over the next few years to a senior purchase ledger clerk and senior sales ledger clerk.

In 2009, still within the Finance department, Paula became a travel officer and remained in that role until moving in 2015 to the procurement team as a procurement assistant. Over the past ten years in procurement, Paula has supported all Schools and departments, ensuring they procure goods and services with a focus on value for money. She has also guided many staff members through detailed processes and procedures.

While working at the University, Paula met Dan, and they married in 2011. Paula's daughter Emily also joined the University in 2021, working in Teesside University's Online Learning department. Paula is a highly valued member of the Finance team and has made a substantial contribution to the department's success.

Eve joined the University as a student support officer in the Business School. Her dedication and versatility led her to move into roles in payroll, before becoming a travel officer and asset manager. Eve is currently a credit controller in Transactional Services.

Over her years at the University, Eve has been a great support to staff and students, guiding them through a variety of processes and situations. Eve continues to do so in her current role as a critical member of the Finance team.

While working at the University, Eve met Steve. They are now married and have a daughter named Olivia.

Stephen began his journey in the School of Computing & Mathematics, where he quickly became a key member of the Windows team. His meticulous approach and problem-solving skills were instrumental in developing and streamlining student account processes, significantly improving efficiency for both students and staff.

As technology evolved, Stephen was at the forefront of transforming how virtual environments were deployed and managed within the School. His willingness to embrace new technologies and push for innovation helped lay the foundation for modernising IT. In 2013, Stephen moved to central IT, joining the information assurance team, where his impact continued to grow. He single-handedly implemented a more structured, secure and efficient asset management process. His work ensured that IT assets were properly accounted for, tracked and managed, reducing waste, improving security and setting a high standard for asset handling across the University.

Beyond asset management, Stephen has also been a key figure in IT security training, helping to educate staff and students on best practices and raising awareness of emerging threats. His ability to break down complex security concepts into practical guidance has made him an invaluable resource for the University community.

Jo is a well-loved member of the Campus Services team, running the reprographics service. She began working at the University in December 1999, having previously spent eight years at Middlesbrough Council in its print department. She has spent her whole time at Teesside University in the print room on the second floor of Middlesbrough Tower.

In this time, Jo has seen significant changes in print room technology and has become adept in using the latest production and large format equipment. She currently runs the day-to-day service on her own, juggling several jobs at once with a keen eye for quality.

Jo is a football fan and Middlesbrough supporter. She played for Middlesbrough Ladies until she broke her leg playing in a match in Preston in the early 90s. Now, she enjoys going to the theatre and is a confident independent traveller, particularly enjoying regular visits to the USA and Spain.

Dave started working as a technical officer in the Library and experienced many IT transformations. He supported helpdesks in Schools such as Engineering, Arts & Media and Computing.

IT is now centralised, and Dave helps support the whole of the campus. He specialises in technical software for the School of Health & Life Sciences and the Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre. Dave is currently working on an ongoing project to keep all devices up to date so that they are not vulnerable to cyber threats.

Dave is meticulous in his work, taking time to make sure the job is done correctly. He has made a lot of friends throughout campus and is always willing to talk and listen to people. Outside of work, Dave is a big Middlesbrough football fan.

Craig has cemented himself as a valuable member of IT & Digital Services over the years, leading the IT Service Desk through several significant changes to service provision over the years.

Demonstrating foresight and great adaptability, Craig has been instrumental in designing service desk provision during the unification of IT service desks. He has successfully delivered a new service desk experience in Student Life and Middlesbrough Tower.

Craig is always looking for ways to enhance the experience for students, staff and visitors. Craig takes a thoughtful approach to his service delivery and is always willing to support colleagues across the team, department and the wider community.

Pete has forged a remarkable career as a senior lecturer in research methods. He began his journey at Teesside University in the School of Social Sciences, where he spent five years teaching criminology, sociology and youth studies courses. His dedication and passion for education were evident from the start, and he quickly became a valued member of the academic community.

In 2004, Pete transitioned to what is now the School of Health & Life Sciences, enabling him to have a profound impact on the healthcare workforce. Pete has taught research methods across a wide range of courses, including to nurses, paramedics and operating department practitioners. His expertise and ability to convey complex concepts have been instrumental in shaping the skills and knowledge of countless healthcare professionals. Pete is highly regarded within the School for his teaching prowess.

Pete's positive influence and contributions to the healthcare workforce cannot be overstated. His commitment to education and his ability to inspire others make him a truly exceptional educator and a cherished member of the School and Team Teesside.

Lorraine began her journey at Teesside working within credit control in Finance, quickly becoming an indispensable team member. She progressed her career to work within assessments, modularity and timetabling within the School of Health until 2019, before joining the Student Futures team to become a work experience officer.

In 2024, and in recognition of her hard work, experience and extensive capability, Lorraine was promoted to student opportunities manager. She supports the Student Futures agenda and is a valued member of the team, contributing to an exceptional student experience, which in turn supports positive graduate outcomes.

Lorraine has made significant contributions within the teams she has worked with over the last 25 years. She is a highly valued, respected member of the team and has passionately supported students with empathy, understanding and practical help. She is approachable, caring and always willing to provide advice, guidance, and support to colleagues and students.

Paul joined Teesside as a security officer and tirelessly provides a fantastic student and staff experience. In 2019, he became a team leader.

Paul has led his teams through some very challenging incidents – most recently the 2024 riots, where he showed immense bravery and courage. He faced the violence and criminal activity head on, putting the safety of staff and students above his own and ensuring all got home safely.

In addition to work, Paul has gained a Diploma in Leadership and Management from Middlesbrough College while working full time and looking after his family, which is a fantastic achievement. Paul is highly knowledgeable and an extensively trained officer including Security Industry Authority courses, first aid, mental health first aid, protests, and major incident management. Paul has been a Unison representative for many years and has supported numerous staff members.

Jeff has been a valuable member of the IT support teams he has worked in, providing customer-focused support to all staff and students in the School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies and IT & Digital Services.

Jeff was one of the first technicians to provide dedicated IT / AV support to colleagues at the Darlington Campus. During this period, he mentored and shared his knowledge with other technicians at the campus to help enhance the IT support service. Jeff also developed his software and hardware skills, which supported his move to the Device Services team.

In the Devices Services team, Jeff has worked on delivering an excellent student experience by deploying and optimising applications used in academic teaching and improving accessibility to software and other resources. He has also worked diligently in identifying computers with vulnerabilities and securing them - taking a proactive approach to keep the University safe and secure. His willingness to learn new technologies and ways of working have enabled him to keep abreast of the challenges facing a modern IT team, and he is currently working towards enabling the University's new digital strategy, adopting cloud technologies and increasing efficiency.

Karen began her Teesside University career playing a pivotal role in pioneering the University's part-time provision, such as through the Summer, Spring and Winter University programme. She was a real driving force in its development and growth, and the success of this is reflected in the continuation of the programme today.

In her position as recruitment co-ordinator, Karen orchestrated the University open days. These large-scale recruitment events have a huge impact on influencing prospective students' higher education decisions, and her meticulous planning and commitment to providing the best customer experience to visitors set the quality standard for future events.

While undertaking her role, Karen also managed part-time study and completed the LLB (Hons) Law degree with Teesside University. More recently, Karen has excelled as the widening participation data and evaluation analyst within the Student Recruitment, Marketing and Communications team. She has been instrumental in introducing new systems that have streamlined event operations and transformed the way the team records, evaluates, monitors and reports on activity.

Denise joined the University as a cleaner in 2000. She has been a valued member of the housekeeping team ever since, working across all buildings on the ever-expanding campus.

Denise is currently working at MIMA, where she has made a great impact with both staff and visitors. Her hard work, experience and flexibility is very much appreciated by the whole team.

She always helps to make sure the job gets done and is an asset to the team and the University as a whole.

Lynne joined the University in 1983, initially based at the Flatts Lane site. During her career, she has worked in three different libraries in a mixture of full-time and part-time roles. Lynne has progressed to her current role of library coordinator, where her knowledge and experience is vast and a huge asset to the Student & Library Services team as well as the wider University.

Lynne has played an important role in her time at Teesside, specifically in the Cataloguing and Acquisitions team. She has provided exceptional support, advice and guidance around the procurement of material for extensive Library collections, both physical and electronic. She has continued to support with continuous improvements to processes in this area throughout her time.

Sandra started working for the University in 1983, spending most of her career providing professional support to the Vice-Chancellor's Office. She became an executive assistant in 2016 and, in 2021, took on the role of executive officer directly supporting both University Secretary and Executive Director of Legal & Governance Services, as well as providing support to the Chair of the Board of Governors.

Ada Burns, Chair of the Board of Governors, said: "Sandra defines the expression of 'going above and beyond', thinking ahead and answering any request with good humour and patience. She's a great asset and great support."

Sandra's strengths in understanding and managing people have also led to her taking on the line management for the administrative support team in Legal & Governance Services.

Claire joined the University in 1999 as a personnel assistant and quickly progressed to become an acting administrator, while also supervising and co-ordinating the work of the wider recruitment team and deputising for the senior personnel administrator in their absence.

Claire worked for a short period as an assistant accommodation officer in Student Services, before returning as an administrator in the recruitment team, where she supported all University recruitment and wider general employee administration. In 2018, she was promoted to HR services manager, where she led a team of recruitment administrators and advisers and provided an invaluable service for the University in all aspects of recruitment. In 2022, Claire was promoted to HR recruitment manager and has driven forward changes in the applications system, interviews and the overall applicant experience.

Over the last five years, Claire has successfully managed a service that has processed approximately 4,100 vacancies and almost 30,000 applications, with a 37-day turnaround from approval to appointment.

Mike started his Teesside University career as an information officer in the Library. He was quickly promoted to a senior information officer, rising to network support supervisor in 2001. In 2003, he transferred to the IT department, into a new senior analyst role, and became the core support for the HR/Payroll system and multiple databases across the University.

Following a restructure, Mike's role changed to ICT principal technician, and he became more involved in wider university projects. In 2014, Mike joined the HR department as a HR systems development manager. He has been fundamental to the transformation of HR data, systems, and solutions – supporting with digital and online approaches, allowing HR to streamline its services, and providing data to stakeholders and customers.

Mike manages a team in HR, and has been responsible for many key changes, such as, the introduction of the Leave Request System, Sickness Absence Online System and both Employee and Manager Self Service. Mike has also developed and deployed over 200 reports to support the University's understanding of its staffing profile, workforce planning/development, recruitment and retention and to inform both operational and strategic decision making.

Siobhan graduated from Teesside University in 1994 with the MSc Computer Aided Graphical Technology Applications and became an artist in residence at Cumbria College of Art and Design. She rejoined Teesside joined the University in 1999 as a senior lecturer in concept art.

Siobhan became head of digital enterprise before she was named Aassociate Dean in the School of Computing. In the role, she drove interesting projects within the University and developed industry collaborations nationally and internationally.

She played a pivotal role in taking Teesside University's world-renowned animation, gaming and visual effects festival – Animex – to Kuala Lumpur in 2013 and 2014.

Tim worked in an architectural practice before joining the University's Virtual Reality Centre, initially as an artist and then as an animator and project manager.

While working at the centre, Tim studied for a Master's in Computer Animation and, in 2003, started working with the School of Computing and the School of Arts & Media, as a part-time lecturer and then as a business development manager.

He played a key role in shaping the School's enterprise projects and building important connections. His work resulted in a global patent for an innovative computer input device.

In 2009, Tim became a full-time lecturer in games animation, continuing to inspire others. He developed and delivered a range of animation and motion capture modules, as well as professional project management courses.

Between 2017 and 2023, Tim also took on the role of Animex Director. He was responsible for the planning, project management and leadership of the Animex team in the delivery of the Animex festival.

Alongside his teaching duties, Tim continues to work with business clients to support knowledge exchange and consultancy projects. He enjoys inspiring students and supporting businesses to embrace new technologies and practices.

Justin joined the University as senior lecturer in Visualisation and Graphical Applications in 1998 after a long career internationally in film and teaching. Since he joined Teesside, he has worked in all areas of animation and visualisation.

Justin is passionate about animation and draws from his industry experience on projects for film, television and new media that included clients such as the Rolling Stones, Disney, Pixar and The Natural History Museum. He has high expectations and aspirations for students.

He has also worked hard to develop student progression and employability through the Expo series and expanded the University's footprint into London.

Steve first joined the University workforce in 1995 on a year-long web development placement as part of his BSc Visualisation undergraduate degree.

He graduated in 1998 and became a 3D modeller and developer in the Virtual Reality Centre.

In 2004, Steve joined the School of Computing Accessibility Research Centre, developing alternative user interfaces for people unable to interact with a computer using the standard keyboard and mouse.

Steve then moved to the School of Computing Web team that was formed to start investigating how new technology could be used to support the School's teaching and administrative tasks.

Steve takes an analytical approach to his work and is a highly intelligent and respected member of the team.

Susan joined the University as a placement student in the School of Computing & Mathematics in 1996 while she was studying Business Administration at college. She spent one day a week in the administration office gaining work experience.

In 1998, Susan was taken on as a school assistant and has worked for the School, in admissions and student records since that time, other than a short stint in the Business School.

Susan has seen many changes in the School and supported numerous initiatives. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge in admissions and student records. She has supported thousands of applicants and parents over the years and has seen many of the applicants become successful graduates. Susan now supports the School's international students, as well as those needing extra support to succeed.

She met her husband in the School, and they married in 2004. She worked part-time for several years before returning full-time in 2019 to a new role in modularity and student records. More recently, Susan was promoted to senior lead monitoring officer within the School's student support team.

Claire started her Teesside University career in the School of Science & Engineering in 1998. She worked in the School until it became School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies, where she continued in her role as deputy senior administrator

Her in-depth understanding and knowledge of TUOLE and university systems has allowed her to continually adapt processes to streamline and improve the management of courses while also supporting the Director of Studies.

Claire is an excellent team leader and a highly valued and well-liked member of the School.

In addition to her work in the academic departments, Claire has made many friends across the University who she has met in the gym and fitness classes.

Julie started her career at the University developing and delivering multimedia and web courses. Her career developed to cover a range of computing areas such as IT governance, IT law and ethics as well as cyber security.

Julie held many roles at Teesside. As school disability coordinator, Julie supported students with empathy, understanding and practical solutions to ensure they thrived in their academic pursuits.

She was also involved with the academic unions at Teesside, first with the AUT and then as Secretary of the Teesside branch of the UCU.

She became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a full member of the International Association for Development of the Information Society.

Dr Zhang joined the University as a research fellow in 1999 and was promoted to senior lecturer in 2004 and reader in 2014. Dr Zhang is an accomplished researcher and has won a number of research grants funded by the EU, UK government departments and agencies throughout his academic career. His sustained and long-term working relationships with industry have supported research impact cases developed under his leadership. He made significant contributions to the University's REF submissions.

Dr Zhang is also renowned internationally in the field of multiphase flow measurement and instrumentation technologies and has published widely with more than 100 publications in various academic journals, book chapters and conferences.

Dr Zhang oversaw PhD recruitment and progression for the School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies. Under his leadership and management, the number of postgraduate research students and the PhD completion rate within the School saw continuous improvement.

Dr Jackson began her working life as a teacher before going on to qualify as a social worker. During her time at Teesside, she has worked across many different courses taught across the social work qualifying programmes. She took the lead on developing and writing the MA Social Work and had a central role in delivering the course, alongside teaching on the BA Social Work.

Since completing her doctorate on the social construction of childhood and death in children's literature, Dr Jackson has continued to be involved in research around death education and is frequently invited to speak on related topics at international events.

Dr Jackson has developed the knowledge and skills of students on some of the most difficult aspects of social work with a sense of sincerity and creativity that has stayed with them throughout their careers. Some of those previous students now work alongside her in the social work team at Teesside, where she continues to support their development.

Professor Crawshaw is a Professor of Public Policy in the School of Social Sciences Humanities & Law. He has published widely in a range of international, peer reviewed journals

In 2002, he was appointed as lecturer in the School of Health & Social Care and, in 2008, he took up a position as senior lecturer of, sociology in the School of Social Sciences & Law, where he was subsequently appointed as principal lecturer and subject group leader. In 2010, Paul was appointed as assistant dean and director of the Social Futures Institute. In 2015, Paul was appointed Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law, leading its expansion across new subject areas including social work, clinical psychology and the humanities.

Under his leadership, the School established flagship programmes with strategic regional stakeholders. In 2022, Paul took up a new position as Director of the Institute for Social Innovation, which worked to harness the impact of social science research. In 2023, Paul took up his current position and is leading research exploring the links between economic inactivity and poor health.

In the 25 years since Claire Pounder began working at Middlesbrough Council, became part of MIMA and then joined Teesside University, she has played a role as a leader and a change maker.

Previously awarded a Star Award, Claire receives this long-standing employment recognition just as a major project she has led, People Powered: Stories from the River Tees, has been awarded the North East Culture Awards Heritage Award.

Claire has a vision for the role of art in society, and she puts this into practice every day in her work. She is known across the UK and within the North East cultural learning community as a senior sector voice.

Claire joined the University on the Youth Training Scheme in 1997, working in the School of Social Sciences & Law before being offered a permanent role within the school.

Over the years. Claire has held several roles across the University and moved from the School of Social Sciences & Law to the School of Health & Social Care, the School of Arts & Media and Student Recruitment & Marketing, in diverse roles including Assessments, Modularity and Timetabling, Recruitment and Compliance before settling in the Finance Systems team as a systems analyst.

During this time, Claire also found time to complete a Higher National Certificate in Business and Finance. She is no stranger to setting herself challenges, having climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2012, and is often found running in the hills or competing in a triathlon.

Lisa started working for Middlesbrough College in payroll in 1999. When Middlesbrough College made the decision to outsource their payroll to the Teesside University Payroll Services in 2013, Lisa became an employee of the University.

She has become a highly respected and integral part of the bureau operations, leading on the operational, day to day running of the bureau service and overseeing the workload of her team. Her 33 years of experience in payroll and pensions has proved invaluable to the running of the payroll bureau.

Lisa has significantly contributed to improving the reputation of the payroll bureau and will be a key player in achieving the 2027 corporate bureau growth strategy.

Lynsey's career at the University started in the Research Office , as a young apprentice. She fitted in and applied herself so well that she quickly became an indispensable member of staff. 

Her real forte turned out to be IT, and it was not long before Lynsey became the go-to person for any IT queries. In her time in Academic Enterprise, she was the champion of the CRM system, working with colleagues from across the University.

Since 2020, Lynsey has been a key member of the IT & Digital Services management team, leading the Systems and Integration team and delivering business improvements across the University such as the MyTU app used by thousands of students every day.

Brian first joined the University as a student. He then became a researcher before moving on to a job at ICI. After a couple of years away, he returned to the University as a technician within the School of Computing & Maths, where he specialised in Linux.

Brian moved into the AV team just over ten years ago and has become a very important member.

The team and the wider University value Brian and his ability to deliver a great service. He ensures rooms are checked and covered as required and takes responsibility for a lot of housekeeping.

Ian joined the University as a technician in the School of Computing in 1998. He became SLITS team leader in 1999, where his responsibilities included desktop and server support along with several specialist labs.

He stayed in the School until IT support was centralised in 2011 and joined the server team in 2013.

Ian now helps to support the corporate and academic servers and systems across the University, keeping them secure and updated. He has a good knowledge and understanding of the systems and is very hard working with an excellent standard of work. Outside work, Ian enjoys reading and watching sports such as football.

Dave joined the University in 1998 in a role in Library Information Services, before progressing to a role in the School of Health in 2001 and then joining IT & Digital Services in 2013.

Dave's calm, supportive demeanour has served him well during his 25 years. He now manages a team that keep their finger on the pulse, when it comes to the University's cyber security defences.

Keeping the University's systems and data secure is a significant responsibility for Dave and his team. Their work is valued by all of Team Teesside.

Dr Bettany-Saltikov qualified as a physiotherapist in Malta in 1986. She has a master's degree in Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy from the State University of New York at Buffalo (USA) and a PhD from Kings College, University of London. She joined the University in 1998 and began working in the Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy teams. Since then, she worked across many subject areas.

She has over 23 years' experience of conducting research studies in spinal deformities and over 17 years' experience of teaching research methods to nursing and allied health professionals. Dr Bettany-Saltikov has published over 40 papers in a range of leading journals and has presented over 50 papers relating to spinal deformities and systematic reviews at both national and international conferences.

Dr Bettany-Saltikov went on to become a reviewer for the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment Programme as well as an abstract reviewer for the World Confederation of Physical Therapy Conference.

Steve joined the University in 1998 in the technical team, supporting healthcare staff and students. In 2006, he moved into a teaching role sharing his knowledge, skills and expertise as part of the physiotherapy subject group

Steve quickly developed an understanding of the profession and became a core member of the subject team. He went on to teach physiology to students across many different professions.

When it came to utilising the virtual learning environment to support student learning, Steve was one of the early adopters. He excelled in supporting students' learning through innovative and engaging learning and assessment tools.

He was involved in a wide range of research projects and was central in developing several new courses, bringing his subject- specific expertise and applying his pedagogical knowledge to create contemporary curricula.

Sylvia began work at the University as a technician in the psychology department, then progressed to the School of Health as a lecturer before becoming a key member of the Research Methods team.

She also had a central role in the development of courses delivered in Malaysia, frequently travelling overseas. Through this work, she has enabled many health care professionals to develop their knowledge and clinical practice and ultimately deliver high- quality care to their patients.

Sylvia has supported many students to undertake their final year research projects, bringing her knowledge, and expertise to this element of the student journey and encouraging and supporting them to understand the important role research plays in their professional work.

During his tenure, Professor Islam pioneered groundbreaking research into the development and application of optical spectroscopy techniques, which have extended across diverse domains such as forensic science, food science, health and environmental science.

He undertook prestigious postdoctoral research fellowships, collaborated with esteemed spectroscopy groups and built a robust academic portfolio.

Beyond his research achievements, Professor Islam played a pivotal role in nurturing the next generation of scholars. His mentorship and guidance were instrumental in shaping the academic journeys of numerous students and young academics, fostering a culture of intellectual curiosity and rigor.

Paul joined the university in 1998 as a technician in the School of Science & Technology.

In 2010, he took up the post of technician team leader in the School of Science & Engineering and, in 2020, he was appointed to the post of technician manager (science) in the School of Health & Life Sciences.

Paul provides extensive support to the science department and the School, managing a team of science technicians covering a wide range of disciplines, including biosciences, food sciences, forensic and crime scene sciences, environmental sciences and chemistry.

He ensures that the labs are managed safely and efficiently to meet the needs of all practical sessions and is always looking ahead to see what developments can be made to further improve the lab experience. Paul also made a significant contribution to the successful completion of the new BIOS building.

Jill started her employment at the University in 1998 as a senior lecturer in the physiotherapy team. She developed her expertise in learning and teaching and undertook a variety of leadership roles. Jill was a successful course leader and mentor to colleagues, inspiring and supporting others as they developed in their roles.

In 2019, she progressed to the role of principal lecturer (staffing and resources) within the Allied Health Professions team and, in 2023, she became head of the department.

Jill's innovative and creative approach has fostered an inclusive and entrepreneurial culture across the department. This is reflected in the work she is leading on and developing through her PhD – practice-based learning and the introduction of new and innovative placements in research and leadership.

Paul first came to work at the University in 1997 on a three-year Youth Training Scheme, providing IT support with the Community Informatics Research and Applications Unit. Following the end of the scheme, Paul started an apprenticeship in administration and worked across several Schools and departments.

Paul's first permanent position was an administrator in the Business School, where he found his niche in providing solutions to technical problems. With an appetite for developing new skills, he progressed through IT support in the School of Arts & Media before moving on to technical roles in the Business School, ITDS, School of Science & Technology and the School of Health.

He enjoys supporting exciting new developments in digital and virtual anatomy in his role as a senior technician, enhancing the student learning experience and making a valuable contribution to Team Teesside.

Yvonne joined the University in 1999 after working in further education. During her time at the University, she has worked as subject librarian, assistant academic librarian, temporary head of learning development and, currently, learning adviser based in the Learning Development team in the Library.

Yvonne is passionate about supporting and developing students as part of a Peer Assisted Study Skills (PASS) Scheme. There were 196 attendees for the original PASS Scheme, which has gone from strength to strength and supported 2,313 attendees in 2022-23. Yvonne has given PASS presentations to regional, national and international audiences. Her knowledge is recognised by the International Centre, which has invited her to support the training of new PASS supervisors from other universities.

She also set up a buddy scheme for isolated students in university accommodation in 2020. She continued to administer this support and supervised a student researcher to evaluate the initiative and report the findings at university and regional conferences.

Mickie originally joined the Library team as an evening assistant in 1997. She moved into full-time work and also supported the weekend team, demonstrating her willingness to provide a great student experience as well as enhancing her own professional development.

She is very knowledgeable, particularly when it comes to work-related equipment. Mickey supported several furniture and stock moves in the Library, playing an important role in the preparations for the temporary move of library stock while the current Library was undergoing a major refurbishment.

She is an integral part of the front of house team based in Student and Library Services and has supported the induction and initial development of many new assistants joining the service.

Paul began his career at Teesside University in 1998 as an administrative assistant in the Academic and Staff Development Unit. By 2003, he was assistant administrator in the Centre for Learning and Quality Enhancement, and he became a learning technologist in 2006.

Now, Paul is working as digital learning manager, leading large-scale, high-impact projects on culture, change and academic practice across the University. He has built a professional and high-performing team that has consistently been at the forefront of innovative Learning and Teaching approaches at the University.

Paul has built a deep knowledge and understanding of the needs of academics and students and is recognised as a Senior Fellow of AdvanceHE. He has also held invited external advisory board positions with the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and Jisc.

In 1998, Nicola joined the University as a senior lecturer and programme lead for leisure management and spent her early years designing and leading degree programmes, supporting numerous students with their studies and working with academic and professional services teams.

She became a principal lecturer in 2006 as a school learning and teaching coordinator. Through her role, she developed learning and teaching practices and contributed to university-wide projects in relation to pedagogical practice and research. In 2015, Nicola moved into Academic Registry as a principal lecturer. She then became an associate professor.

In recognition of her contribution to learning and teaching in higher education, Nicola was recognised as a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Gemma joined the University in 1999, working in various roles as part of an apprenticeship scheme. She graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from Teesside University in 2010.

In 2019, Gemma joined Student Learning & Academic Registry as a learning and teaching project officer. She coordinated many successful learning and teaching projects such as the Students as Researchers Scheme and Creator Lab Fellows, along with supporting arrangements for numerous events.

Gemma is currently a partnership and project manager. She leads on a range of institution-wide projects such as developing practices and training for link tutors, coordinating the development of operations manuals for partners and supporting the University's transnational education partners.

Joanne started at the University as an administrator. Her dedication and passion for her work propelled her to rise through the ranks, and she became a student caseworker within the Student Casework Office.

In the challenging realm of student complaints, appeals and student conduct, Joanne has not only demonstrated exceptional professionalism but has showed true leadership capabilities.

As deputy manager, she is now responsible for managing the work of the Student Casework Office, from investigations and appeals to complex student misconduct cases.

Richie worked in a number of temporary roles at Teesside University before becoming a permanent member of staff in 1999. His time has been spent in the Campus Services department, mostly in the timetabling team.

Every year, Richie supports colleagues across Schools to produce the most efficient timetables. For many years, he was part of a small team of three but, in 2018, he became part of a larger, centralised timetabling team as a result of an administration review.

Outside of work, Richie is well known on the local music scene. He joined punk band Shrug in the late 80s and toured Europe playing drums. He is also a founding member of local punk band Pellethead, which started in 1991. Highlights with Pellethead include a tour of the USA and playing in central Prague in front of 3,000 people.

Lisa joined the University in 1999, when Campus Services was known as University Services.

She worked mainly in the Learning Environment team as a departmental assistant. Her role involved supporting exams and assessments, room bookings, graduations, post room and reception points.

Her role developed to focus on supporting the University's switchboard service, which included providing guidance and support on the main switchboard and directing calls across the University.

Carol joined the University as a cleaner in 1998. She was a valued member of the housekeeping team and worked across all buildings on the ever-growing campus, including in student residences.

Carol was a hardworking member of the team. She always helped to make sure the job was done well.

Through her role, she continuously contributed to the student, staff and visitor experience. Her work was appreciated by all of Team Teesside.

Eric joined the University in 1998 as a security officer. In 2001, he transferred to the caretaking team working at Parkside Halls, Education House and the Centre for Enterprise. In 2010, he returned to the security team as a security officer and remains a valued member of the team.

Eric also became the UNISON welfare officer in 2005 and shared the branch secretary's role for some time. In 2008, he added the role of equality and disability officer to his portfolio for the branch.

He has always carried out his UNISON role in a professional manner and has helped many members over the years with advice on matters such as welfare benefits, state benefits, finances and support services. Eric has held the position of Chair for Regional Welfare and represented the branch at local, regional and national events.

Kate started her career at Teesside University in 1998 as part of the Youth Training Scheme. She went on to work within the School of Arts & Media and School of Social Sciences & Law. Kate was also involved in various departments in her roles as administrator and deputy senior administrator.

She enjoyed an 18-month sabbatical when her and husband sailed the Mediterranean. Upon her return, she resumed her career at Teesside.

In 2019, Kate moved to SRM as admissions co-ordinator within the newly centralised UK Admissions team. She continues her work here.

After graduating from Teesside University in 1997, Jackie joined the School of Computing as a lecturer and taught mainstream modules and co-ordinated our UCPD community-based teaching. Jackie has taught on a range of programmes and undertaken a variety of roles in her 25 years at Teesside. She has led the development of a number of courses, including BSc (Hons) Cyber Security and Networks. Jackie is currently a Principal Lecturer (Marketing and Recruitment), and she enjoys working at Teesside University and believes that she has been fortunate to work with some amazing colleagues and students over the years.

Mellissa has been part of our University community for most of her life. As a baby, she attended the University nursery and she returned to campus as an adult in 1997 as a youth trainee in the Student Records team. Since then, Mel has served as a personal assistant to various members of the University Executive Team, and she became Executive PA to both Professor Paul Croney, OBE, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive and Malcom Page, Chief Operating Officer in 2018. She is also the office manager for the wider Vice-Chancellor's Office, leading a team of executive PAs. Mel sets the tone for the operation of the Vice-Chancellor's Office and is a supportive and caring colleague and leader.

Since joining Teesside University as an assistant receptionist in 1997, Fiona has held numerous administrative roles in the Business School and the School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law. Fiona is a trained and experienced counsellor and she has supported many colleagues over the years. She is genuinely interested in how others feel and always goes out of her way to welcome new team members. Fiona is also popular amongst our international students, and they appreciate her help, advice, and support, while they are away from home.

Lee is the University lead for SafeZone, our free app that quickly connects users to the Safety and Security team if they need help or first aid. He joined the University in 1997, and received a community award for bravely apprehending someone holding a weapon in 2011. He has also received a letter of thanks from Cleveland Police after attending a sudden death and supporting the person's family. Lee has gained a range of supervisor qualifications and is currently in studying a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship. Lee is a conscientious, enthusiastic Team Leader, and he has been described by colleagues as a real asset to the team and University.

Sue joined the University as a personal assistant in the Virtual Reality Centre in 1997, supporting the team's ground-breaking work developing our region's digital cluster. She joined the new business development team and played a critical role administering enterprise support programmes to enable graduates to set up pioneering new businesses. In her current role, Sue continues to go above and beyond to support the University's enterprise programmes, and she played an important role in the refurbishment and reopening of the Victoria Building in 2020. She is held in great respect by colleagues, students, and alumni alike, and her warmth and passion for the University is unsurpassed.

Ann is a popular facilities officer who is dedicated to her role, and she always goes the extra mile to help students or other members of staff. Ann joined the University Services departments as a cleaner in July 1997. She worked in the Students' Union as a cleaner before progressing to Saltersgill Pavilion as the caretaker. She has subsequently returned to the main campus as the Students' Union caretaker.

Emma originally started her career at Teesside Polytechnic in 1988 but left shortly after it achieved University status in 1992 to move away from the area. She re-joined the University in 1997 as part of the administrative team within the School of Arts & Media before progressing her career as a senior member of the quality assurance team. Emma embraced the team enhancement agenda and has contributed many innovative ideas and changes to quality processes. Emma is a popular team player and a caring colleague who supports her teammates and others across the University.

Neal first joined Library & Information Services in 1997 to help provide IT support to students. He was subsequently appointed as a Principal Technician and progressed to become an IT Manager with a specific focus on technology enablement and how it could more effectively support the delivery of services to our University community. Neal's career changed direction when he became the Student Life Development Manager in 2019, and he and his team worked hard to support students through the COVID-19 pandemic. His role has subsequently developed into a wider customer-facing position as the Head of Experience and Engagement across all Student and Library Services buildings.

Dr Heckels joined Teesside in 1998 and has supervised more than 200 undergraduate and postgraduate dissertation students. Victoria has held several leadership roles including Director of Programmes for Psychology, and Principal Lecturer in Forensic Psychology. She holds a Doctorate in Psychology, and her research expertise includes the personality characteristics of offenders, stalking and harassment and domestic violence. A highly-regarded practitioner, Dr Heckels is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She is a registered Forensic Psychologist and is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society.

Danny joined Teesside as an Assistant Administrator in 1997, and he has successfully progressed in his career over the years to become a Digital and Design Manager in Student Recruitment and Marketing (SRM). Danny is an invaluable member of the SRM leadership team, with a wealth of technical and web development experience. He has overseen significant developments to the University's website and he ensures it remains current, engaging, and accessible for prospective students and stakeholders alike. He has made huge contribution to the success of the department, and he has won many creative and web awards. Danny is a well-respected and committed member of Team Teesside, and he always displays a positive attitude and gives 100% to everything he does.

Nigel was one of the very first security officers employed at Teesside University in 1997. He helped set up the NICE Investigate system with Cleveland Police, a collaboration that allows partner organisations to share CCTV footage quickly for safety and security purposes. Nigel is professional and dedicated to his role of Security Officer, and he received a Good Citizen Award in 2014 from Cleveland Police after assisting with a knife point robbery. He has been instrumental in ensuring all security officers have appropriate equipment and training to support emergency situations, and he is always willing to share his experience and expertise to assist the team.

Catherine joined the University in 1997, initially working in Library Services before becoming an Administrator in the School of Health & Social Care in 2004 and working as part of the newly-formed Tees Valley Alliance (TVA). In 2014, she was appointed as the Service User and Carer Involvement Co-ordinator and she has since built up a large database of service user carer contacts who share their lived experiences with students and help develop relevant courses. This invaluable input helps students understand the patient experience and enables them to develop a person-centred and individualised approach.

Jackie joined the University as a Cleaner in 1997 and has worked tirelessly making sure our campus is always clean and presentable to ensure we deliver the best experience for colleagues, students and visitors alike. During the last 25 years she has worked across most buildings around the campus and has seen many changes since she joined. Jackie is a helpful, reliable, and dedicated member of the housekeeping team who always makes sure the job gets done. Jackie's contribution is greatly appreciated by her colleagues and our wider University community.

Habby joined the University in 1997 as an Information Officer in Student and Library Services. He applied his training and technical knowledge to support both students and colleagues while working on the service desk. Habby was promoted to Deputy Team Manager in 2002, supervising a small team of technicians to supporting the vast PC estate in the Library. He delivered training in his teacher demonstration role, provided support, and shared his knowledge with students and colleagues to enhance their understanding of our systems and software products. Since then, Habby has become a Technician Principal Analyst and has been instrumental in the delivery of a variety projects to drive efficiencies, process automation, and systems support.

Hayley has been a valued member of the Housekeeping team since she joined the University as a Cleaner in 1997. She has helped maintain cleaning and hygiene standards in all of our buildings across our ever-expanding campus, and her experience, hard work, and dedication are very much appreciated by the whole team. Hayley always gives her best and takes pride in what she does to make sure the job gets done, and she makes an important and positive contribution to the student experience on campus.

Rachel joined Library & Information Services on a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) initially, before progressing into full time employment with the University from 1997. Rachel is currently an SLS Assistant and throughout her career she has continued to contribute to the work of her team through her efforts to acquire and catalogue a wide range of library materials. Rachel always demonstrates a positive outlook, especially when supporting our customers face-to-face, and signposting students to our services, information, and materials.

Caroline's introduction to Teesside University was as an undergraduate student. Her BSc (Hons) International Business and IT course took her to Cannes in France to enjoy a placement year soaking up the culture and learning the language. Caroline started work at the University in 1997, and she has worked in various schools and departments, excelling in a variety of roles. She joined the Systems team in Academic Registry in 2004, and one of her most notable projects was the implementation of a new interface for the UCAS system, which saved time, money and reduced the risk of data errors. Caroline currently works as a Systems Project Officer in Finance where she liaises with colleagues across the University.

Beverley joined Library and Information Services in the User Support Services team in 1997, in a role supporting students with disabilities. She progressed from Senior Information Assistant into a management position as a Library Services Co-ordinator in 2012, before becoming an Access and Further Support Librarian. Latterly, Beverley worked as an Experience and Engagement Manager and her knowledge and experience was critical to the success of our Student Life proposition. She worked incredibly hard with her team to shape, refine and deliver the range of services and support available through Student Life. Beverley has now left the University to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.

Fran joined Teesside University in 1997 as an Assistant Academic Librarian in the Learning Resources Centre and supported the development of library collections and information literacy training for students. She progressed to her current Academic Librarian role in 2010 and she has acquired a wealth of knowledge and experience in her field. She maintains a wide-reaching professional network and is always keen to develop our print and digital collections and extend our reach to less-engaged students. Fran leads a library reading group and connects with students and colleagues to explore creative content. She is a University Mental Health Champion and helps plan events promoting better mental health.

Matthew began his Teesside University journey as a student, completing both an undergraduate degree and master's in Sport and Exercise Science. Matt is passionate about human movement and biomechanics, and he has shared his knowledge with sport and exercise students for more than 25 years. His contributions were acknowledged when he was awarded University Teaching Fellow status in 2011 and subsequently when he became a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Matt has led from the front by facilitating curriculum design and supporting our students as a PhD supervisor and critical friend. In addition to his current part-time role at the University, Matt works for the Football Association in a talent identification and development role.

John joined the University in 1998 and became a team leader in Campus Services in 2018, stepping up as Security Manager on several occasions. Over the past 25 years, John always went above and beyond his job description to deliver a high quality service for colleagues, students and visitors to our University. He designed and implemented numerous systems, including our car parking database, an incident reporting information system (IRIS), and SafeZone, our free app for users who need emergency help or first aid. John always provided his colleagues with support and guidance, and he is now enjoying his retirement, having decided to leave the University at the end of August 2023.

Professor Mark Simpson graduated from Teesside University with a degree in politics and a PhD in Criminology. He has written and researched in the fields of youth crime, youth justice and drug use. He was a director of the British Society of Criminology for over nine years. Holding numerous roles within the University, he was previously Dean of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law. He has a national reputation for teaching & learning and is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Arts (FRSA). Mark is a Local Ambassador for the Prince's Trust, a Senior Independent Director of Thirteen Group and a Director of TECH EQUAL.

Chris has worked in a variety of Campus Services and ITDS roles since joining the University in 1997. He started his career in the print room before progessing to a position in the ITDS User Support team with responsibility for running the busy central helpdesk. Working in the Learning Environment team, Chris oversaw reprographics, postal services, switchboard, and reception services, as well as supporting graduation and room bookings. He was particularly adept in finding innovative technological solutions to improve working practices. Chris is a popular member of the ITDS United Communications team and his colleagues appreciate his approachability and excellent customer service skills.

Julie joined the University as a cleaner and catering assistant in 1997, before becoming a caretaker at King Edward's Square and Parkside. Julie is now a Facilities Officer and she is a popular and experienced member of the team. Her colleagues appreciate her contributions and the fact she is always willing to go the extra mile to help everyone, especially our students.

Amanda joined the University as a Clerk in 1997, and she progressed through a number of roles and promotions before becoming Deputy Director of Finance (Business Planning Services) in 2016. The launch of the University's Strategic Transformation and Change initiative saw Amanda take on responsibility for a series of complex and challenging projects, and the creation of a new department. Following her appointment as Director of Business Change, Improvement and Projects, Amanda joined the University Senior Management Team. She is one of the best-informed people at the University, having insight across all our strategic projects and developments, and she deserves credit for supporting the transformation of the University in recent years.

Lynn joined the University in 1997 as a Departmental Assistant with University Services and carried out a variety of tasks including delivering post and working on main reception and operating the switchboard. Lynn moved to the Department of Academic Enterprise (DAE) in 2003 as a Business Support Officer, before becoming a Student Enterprise Ambassador helping students gain essential business skills. Lynn worked in DAE for a total of 19 years, and she is now a Marketing Co-ordinator in Student Recruitment and Marketing, focussed on Professional Apprenticeships and strategic projects such as the National Horizons Centre. Lynn's rise through the institution is testament to her positive and hardworking attitude, and her dedication to the University is second to none.

Dr Donglai Xu joined Teesside in 1998 and he is an accomplished researcher with international standing in the field of electronic engineering. At Teesside, he has held the roles of course leader and subject group leader, and he has led programme development and innovative research-informed teaching in electrical, electronic and control engineering. Dr Xu is now a Principal Lecturer (International), and he has been instrumental in establishing, developing, and coordinating six joint degree programmes with overseas partner institutions that have generated significant income for the University. Dr Xu has been a Visiting Professor, Fellow, external examiner, and assessor for several universities at PhD, postgraduate and undergraduate levels.