I started my professional life as a language teacher working at first in the private sector in the UK and then moving abroad to work in Libya, Mongolia and Azerbaijan.

I came back to the UK to study for an MEd in Teaching English Overseas at the University of Manchester and was subsequently appointed as a lecturer at the University. Later on I completed an EdD focusing on e-learning.

In the early stages of my career at Manchester I set up and ran the innovative MA in Educational Technology an TESOL, which while it now no longer runs has been replaced by two different options: MA TESOL with an Educational Technology pathway and the MA DTCE with a TESOL pathway.

My main research interests are in: technology in language education; distance teacher education and e-learning.

I have been involved in a number of different projects that give an insight into my interests:

2003-2005 -- For two and a half years I managed the HEFCE funded eChina/UK sub-project for the University. In this project the University of Manchester and three other UK universities were linked to the School of Continuing Education and Teacher Training at Beijing Normal University. We collaborated in the production of online distance materials for Chinese school teachers in the fields of educational psychology and pedagogy.

2005-2007 -- I was also a partner in the EU funded LANCELOT project, which set up a course for teachers wanting to make use of virtual classroom technologies to teach languages.

2007-2009 -- I worked with other Manchester colleagues on behalf of Cambridge University Press conducting research into adult language teachers uses of technology.

2009-2010 -- I successfully managed the AVALON project which is exploring the ways that Multi-User Virtual Environments can be used effectively for language learning and language teacher education.

2010-2014 -- I was a partner in the Euroversity networking project.

2012-2015 -- Consultant for the British Council on the PEELI project. Advising the Ministry of Education in Punjab on the use of technology in teacher education.

2014-2016 -- I was the PI on the ReflectED project evauation for EEF

2016 -- Working with British Council in India surveying the use of digital technologies in schools

2016-2018 -- Working with Cote d'Ivoire Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language helping them to set on online digital community as a part of an IATEFL project

2017-2018 -- PI on the ESRC Impact Accelerator Account project working with Syrian refugees in Jordan: Supporting and developing teachers in challenging contexts

2018-2019 -- PI on the British Council funded English Language Teaching Research Project: Language teacher education at the margins. Working with language teacher associations in Rwanda, Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal

2018-2019 -- PI on the Foreign and Commonwealth funded project: English Connects in Senegal and Cote d'Ivoire

2019-2021 (Nov 2019-Jul 2020 – Extended to July 2021 because of Covid-19) – PI on the GCRF funded project Developing language teacher quality and resilience in fragile contexts through inquiry-led practice. Working with representatives of the Ministry of Education in Cote d’Ivoire

2021 – (Jan-May 21) Consultant: Online Communities of Practice Research and Toolkit Development 2020-2021 – (Oct 20- Jul 21) PI on Transforming lives, transforming practice: how technology shapes teaching, learning and well-being for vulnerable adults in a time of pandemic. ESRC Impact Accelerator Account funded project

Nov 2021- Feb 2022 -- Consultant: Worked on the New Ways of Teaching project with the British Council Americas team, producing six infographics and a final summary document built around the British Council CPD framework

Jan 22- onwards -- Consultant: Advisor on research methods and learning technologies for Immerse (Language learning and virtual reality)

I have had considerable international experience over the course of my career working in and conducting projects in many different countries:

Azerbaijan, Brazil, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Germany, China, Indonesia, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Senegal, Tunisia.

I have also had recent experience working on and managing European projects: Lancelot, AVALON and Euroversity