I began my career working for Merseyside Police in 1994 gathering experience in various fields, and left qualified to the rank of Inspector after 13 years, having experienced many great opportunities. In the last few years of my service I began teaching equality and diversity (gaining a PGCE and MSc, in Occupational Psychology) which led to a change of career path in 2008, and a teaching role at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). Early on in my teaching career I developed an interest in occupational police culture and police education which formed my PhD (2016).

After lecturing for two years at UCLan I became the Principal Lecturer for Forensic and Investigative Sciences, which saw me responsible for the quality and student experience of Forensic, Policing, Fire, Chemistry and Archaeology Programmes.

From 2016-2018 I was given the role of Acting Head for Forensic and Applied Sciences with responsibility for the school, managing over 90 staff, 1500 students and a three million pound budget. For two years running the school was voted the best at UCLan, by the students.

From 2018 to 2020 I took on the role of Business and Partnership Lead for the School of Forensic and Applied Sciences, due to my expertise and research focus on police culture and education and the new direction for the police service, the Police Education Qualification Framework (PEQF). During that time I developed and won tender opportunities for both Cumbria and Lancashire Police forces, for the PEQF and led business opportunities around Security and Emergency Planning.

In the summer of 2020 I returned to my roots of Liverpool and became the Head of LCAPS, the Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing Studies. Over the last two years I have developed new programmes for policing and won tenders around diversity in firearms, policing education and Police Now. I have also set up a Police Research Hub with the main aim of supporting education and research within policing, both nationally and internationally.

I have two years experience of being a Governor in FE, at Hugh Baird College in Liverpool and have been part of the National Aurora Project (key speaker) and Future Proof, both of which are programmes designed to support women for Senior positions in HE. I am a on line assessor for the College of Policing and an active member of the HE Forum in Policing, and regularly support the College of Policing in the development of police education through various meetings.

Degrees

2016, University of Central Lancashire, United Kingdom, PHD
2007, Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom, PGCE
2000, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, MSc Occupational Psychology
1994, University of Hull, United Kingdom, BSc (hons) Psychology

Academic appointments

Head of Policing at LCAPS, Liverpool John Moores University, 2020 - present
Lead for Business and Partnerships, University of Central Lancashire, 2018 - 2020
Head of Forensic and Applied Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, 2016 - 2018
Principal Lecturer, University of Central Lancashire, 2010 - 2016