This led to teaching on a variety of Sports Science related modules at undergraduate and postgraduate level at the University of Chester, including research methods and statistics. I was able to continue my interest in learning through employment by supporting students studying for work-based undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. I later moved to the University’s Learning and Teaching Enhancement provision, becoming the University’s Director of Learning and Teaching in 2012. This role involved working with colleagues across all the University’s disciplines on a variety of teaching initiatives and in developing colleagues' capacity for undertaking pedagogic research. Alongside my work I studied for a PhD, which was awarded in 2012. My thesis explored local leadership roles in Higher Education. I retired from the University in 2015 and was awarded an Emeritus Professorship in Learning and Teaching – a great honour.

Outside my University work, I was a Trustee/Governor of The King’s School, Chester from 1996 - 2004. I have also been a Trustee of a local hospice and of the End of Life Partnership, a Cheshire-based charity whose role involves co-ordinating end of life care and end of life care education, across health, social and voluntary services in the county. I served as both Deputy-Chair and Chair of the EoLP’s Board of Trustees. I joined BFWG during my university teaching career and re-joined after retiring. I am Chair of BFWG’s Research Ethics Committee, support the development of the website and am Secretary to the Scholarship Fund Trustees.

My other interests and activities include being member of the WI, owning a horse and competing in dressage. I enjoy reading, cooking and a variety of outdoor activities. I have 3 adult children of whom I am very proud!

I am an emeritus Professor at the University of Chester (my chair is in Geoconservation, a world first), where I taught as a geologist in the Department of Biological Sciences for 25 years. During that time. I saw seven PhD students to completion in geoconservation, sustainable development, women in geology and environmental education. I taught my final course in 2024. I also worked for the Open University for 37 years in Wales, NW England and various summer schools.

I completed my undergraduate degree at Leicester University in Geology, Geography and Archaeology followed by an MSc in Information Science at City University, London.  I returned to Leicester to complete a PhD in Quaternary Geology.  I also taught at Syracuse University in New York State, USA after completing my doctorate.  I am currently a Trustee for the UNESCO GeoMôn/Anglesey Global Geopark. In 2022 I was awarded the Halstead Medal from the Geologists’ Association for my pioneering work on Geoconservation, Quaternary geology, and raising the profile of early female geologists as role models for today and through geological education at all levels.

I have published widely in the field of Geoconservation as well as the history and role of early women geologists including editing 4 books for the Geological Society of London..

Along the way there were a number of not for profit clients and these led me to voluntary roles in several organisations, though I have tried to move away from the automatic assumption that I wish to take the treasurer role.

Some of the organisations I have been involved with deal with housing and support both for young people (16 to 24) and older (60+) in Leeds, as well as being active in local community projects and environmental groups.

Although our children have long since grown up there are now two granddaughters to delight us.

My own research journey from growing up in a war-torn Serbia to reaching an academic position at a prestigious UK university enables me to appreciate the struggles of both international and domestic students in the UK.

I have acted as a reviewer for BFWG Academic Award applications from 2014 and gained significant experience in judging the quality of applications and overall research excellence.

I have also reviewed applications for Junior Research Fellowships in Jesus College, University of Cambridge, during my time there as a Research Fellow (2016-2018).

My research projects include early copper making in the Balkans and the prehistory of the Silk Roads, linking Central Asia, the Eurasian Steppe and most of Europe during the 4th – 1st millennium BC, and more broadly addressing the pre-modern globalisation of Eurasian continent by looking at the (technological) knowledge economy at the time.

As an Honorary Fellow of the Cambridge Central Asia Forum (University of Cambridge), I keep expanding my research profile beyond the current research network that includes 30 institutions in 12 different countries.

Other than this, I have been peer reviewing grant proposals for European Commission (ERC Starting Grants), National Science Foundation (NSF), Austrian Science Foundation, Polish Academy of Sciences, as well as winning proposals myself, with all research projects amounting to c. £720,000 thus far.

In my spare time I enjoy….

Dancing tango, surfing, complex culinary projects like fermenting food and collecting Non-Fungible Tokens.

I am passionate about making a positive difference to students’ lives by high-quality and innovative higher education. One of my key priorities is to ensure that we genuinely place the student learning experience and student success at the heart of everything we do and to prepare students for meaningful careers and lives for the common good of their communities and the wider society. During my career I have received regional, national and international awards for excellence in learning, teaching and leadership.

I am also a passionate and active advocate of equality, diversity, inclusion and social justice. I have initiated and organised numerous events and initiatives (e.g. organising International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month celebrations) to advance these key areas and was delighted to be asked to join the British Federation for Women Graduates as a Scholarship Trustee.

Born in the Staffordshire Moorlands, I attended my local village comprehensive school where fantastic teachers inspired my love for education. I studied French and German at the University of Birmingham and was the first in my family to go to university. I later completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Modern Languages) and MA Education. Awarded a PhD in Education by the University of Birmingham, I researched and contributed to the knowledge base regarding the perceived benefits and the perceptions of students, academics, academic leaders and professional key stakeholders regarding master’s level study and aspirations for a master’s level teaching profession.

My research interests are in master’s level study, continuing professional development, learning, teaching and assessment and Education policy. Research achievements include the publication of articles in high ranking, peer-reviewed international journals, which were submitted to the Education Unit of Assessment in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework. In my spare time I enjoy walking, reading, cycling and kayaking.

To follow

I hope to bring general IT, management and marketing skills and use my experience in data management and document design skills both for data capture and marketing.

Of necessity, as my company grew, I became more of a manager than a technician.  I welcome the chance BFWG gives me to go back to my roots, coming to grips with current technology to deliver solutions.  For example, I now keep the BFWG website updated.  Website design was a steep learning curve for me but one I relished!

Since we retired my husband and I spent 4 years renovating a near derelict Grade I Georgian house which we now call home - and our millstone!  For three years I was a volunteer with EmpathyLab, a not-for-profit CIO which fosters empathy in children through reading.  This includes producing a Read for Empathy collection of books annually for children of all ages - of particular interest to me as our seven grandchildren were growing up.