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 currently also Chair of the Finance Committee, a role I have undertaken for just over six years. I am also a nominee shareholder on behalf of BFWG for our other Charity FfWG.

I am currently retired following a career primarily in education working within both schools and local authorities. I undertake a range of other volunteer roles including being a Governor of a local secondary school. I have five grandchildren who I see regularly although two of them incur a journey of more than 300 miles! I enjoy gardening, being part of a choir as well as being part of several book groups.

My roles across BFWG has extended my understanding of the impact our federation makes to others.

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.