​I have a depth of experience in undertaking leadership and administrative roles at School and University level. I have an excellent understanding of the requirements of academic administration and course/programme management duties. I directedthe MSc Urban and Regional Studies. I was the programme lead for our two PhD programme as Postgraduate Tutor for Geography and Urban and Regional Studies and also acted as Careers Tutor in charge of employability. I was also Second Year Tutor, coordinating the year 2 planning programme. This combined with my duties of mentor for early careers colleagues, personal development reviewer, research fellow manager, REF internal evaluator have provided me with the experience and expertise to make a positive contribution to the day-to-day administrative and management duties. 
​Management and Leadership Roles (Research related)
 

University of Birmingham

  • GEES Urban Initiative Lead – Since June 2017
 
I established, lead and manage the Urban Initiative across the school while being the primary point of contact for collaborations across UOB and with external stakeholders and funding bodies. Leadership and overall strategic planning role involves establishing  and providing strategic direction on research, education, influence and impact. The Urban Initiative operates as a virtual centre across the School and the University and is, along with the £15 million pound BIFOR (Birmingham Institute of Forest Research) centre, at the centre of the School’s REF 2021 narrative. I coordinate and lead the urban strategy and activities across the school and with the other research centres across campus for example in the areas of Energy and Resilient cities. I  lead the collaboration with the European Union Joint Research Centre, as part of the Urban Strand. I managed to secure the participation of the City of Birmingham as the 4th City Lab, part of the EU community of practice (CoP-CITIES). This is a network of cities and of international and intergovernmental organisations and research bodies.
 
Management and Leadership Roles (Teaching related)
 
  • Director MSc Urban and Regional Studies – 2011-2013
My role as Director included leading the strategic directions for the programme. I was responsible for marketing, admission and overall course delivery and coordination. I acted as Personal Tutor for all MSc students, organised and chaired examination boards and conducted annual programme reviews.
 
Management and Admnistrative Roles (Research related)
 
  • Postgraduate Tutor for Geography and Urban and Regional Studies– 2011-2013
My role as Postgraduate Tutor included the development and promotion of the PhD programmes in Human Geography and Urban and Regional Studies. I was involved in fostering the University’s profile towards priority countries (China and India). The merger of CURS with the School of Geography enabled me to significantly raise the profile of the School in the field of urban planning: PGR applications in 6 months doubled. In addition, I provided leadership in four areas: recruiting DRs and allocating supervisors; monitoring DRs’ progress and training activities; chairing all viva voce examinations, ensuring a pastoral care to ensure a 100% rate completion and support role and liaising with the Head of School and Senior Postgraduate Tutor.
 
Management and Admnistrative Roles (Teaching related)
 
  • Careers Tutor for Geography, Planning and Environmental Sciences - September 2015 – September 2017
This role required me to operate across the University (with various career network representatives), the College and the School. I made a key contribution in significantly increasing students’ awareness and satisfaction about the School and the University provision with regard to careers and skills in 2016 NSS scores This was achieved by reviewing communication with students and developing and implementing  a strategy based on a more rigorous selection of information provided by programmes and working with personal tutors and  students. Additionally, I evaluated the provision of career-focused discussions in the undergraduate curriculum.
 
  • 2ndYear Tutor (JH Planning Programmes) – 2009-2011
My role as tutor included ensuring overall Year 2 curriculum delivery and coordination. I acted as Personal Tutor for all 2ndyear students,  liased with programme director, ensured that module reviews were completed and participated to Staff/Students commitee.
 
​Contribution to corporate life
 
Research
 
  • Member of the Institute for Global Innovation GCRFFunds awarding groupsince 2018
  • Member of the University ESRC Strategy Groupsince 2017
  • Lead for the Urban Change theme of the JRC/UoB Collaboration Agreement since 2018
  • Member ofDoctoral researcher liaison committee (2011-2013)
  • Member ofCollege of Life Environmental Sciences PGR/Doctoral Researcher Committee (2011-2013)
  • PhD Internal examiner
  • Stacey Pethia: “Reconstructing Communities: The impact of regeneration on community dynamics and processes”, 25th March 2011 (passed with major revisions)
  • Katsiaryna Padvalkava: “Gambling with the State: understanding retirement and pensions in contemporary Belarus”, 2ndAugust 2011 (passed with major revisions)
  • Jacob Sadler: “Sub-national governance and the relational spatial economy: examining spaces of firm-state engagement in the ‘localist’ era”, 21stJuly March 2015 (passed with major revisions)
  • PhD External examiner
  • Virginie Anquetil, 26 February 2016, La valorisation du végétal dans les trajectoires de mutation des friches urbaines : une approche socio-environnementale, University of Nantes (France), School of Geography and Planning.
  • Hanadi Abdullah Alharbi, 26 January 2017, The redevelopment and gentrification of central Medina, University of Leicester, Department of Geography.
  • Xinkai Wang, 3 July 2017, Tomorrow’s Eco-City in China: Improving Eco-City Development in a Culture of Collaborative Communication, University of Liverpool, Department of Geography and Planning. 
  • Ohoud Kamal, 29 November 2019, Temporary space in Amman: a co-creation of everyday activism and state flexibility, Newcastle University.
  • Thierry Maeder, forthcoming Spring 2020, L’art et le nouvel esprit de l’urbanisme. Enjeux et évolutions de la commande artistique dans la production de l’espace urbain; University of Geneva
 
Teaching
 
  • Personal tutor for undergraduate and postgraduate students (2009 to date)
  • Member of theExtenuation circumstances committee (2009-2013)
  • Participation toExam board (2009 to date)
  • Member ofStaff/Student committee (UG) (2009-2011; 2015-2017)
  • Member ofStaff/Student Committee (PG) (2011-2013)
  • Member of theCURS RTPI board(2009 to date)
  • Member ofCollege of Life Environmental Sciences Careers Forum (2015-2017)
Management
 
  • Manager of two Research Fellowsand one Research Assistant (since February 2017)
  • Mentorfor GEES colleagues on probation (since September 2017)
  • Personal Development Reviewer for GEESacademic staff (since September 2017)
  • Member ofSelection panels (L/SL and Teaching Fellow Posts) (since 2010)
  • AESOP Contact Person for the School (2010 to date)