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What is your role and what does it involve?

I run a number of courses for budding entrepreneurs at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø. These include undergraduate and MSc "taught" programmes alongside a range of extra-curricular activities delivered through Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Advances.

As Vice Dean for enterprise in Engineering I see my role as communicating the benefits of closer collaboration between industry and academia whilst trying to minimise barriers to effective knowledge exchange between Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø academics and our external partners.

How long have you been at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø and what was your previous role?

My disciplinary background is Mapping and Geographic Information Systems. During my time at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø I have contributed to many exciting initiatives including the creation of an MSc in Geographic Information Science and the formation of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø's interdisciplinary Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA). I also worked in Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø's Technology Transfer Office before returning to an academic role to help set up the Department of Management Science and Innovation and Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Advances.

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?

Along with the satisfaction of seeing my Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø spin-out successfully harness new photogrammetric methods to solve real engineering challenges I get immense pride from supporting the growth of new companies spawned entrepreneurship programmes at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø. In the last quarter of 2011 it was fantastic to see two companies from the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø MSc in Technology Entrepreneurship each raise more than £1m in early stage investment.

What is your life like outside Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø?

As long as the Saracens keep winning life is good.