I’m a Senior Lecturer in Educational Innovation and Initiatives and the Programme Lead for Rise, Manchester Met’s award-winning space for experiential learning in the extended curriculum. Along with designing, delivering and curating innovative learning experiences, my team also administer the accreditation framework that enables students to enhance their degree outcomes through Rise.

I completed my PhD in 2019, and my research focused on how participation in higher education might be transformed through the use of playful metaphors to encourage freedom, agency and democracy. This work directly feeds into my work leading Rise.

My research interests are innovative higher education practice, Deweyan pragmatism, play and games. I’m the co-chair of the Playful Learning Conference, my work with which won a CATE award in 2024, and I’m a founding member of the Manchester Games Centre. I’m also an organiser and trainer for Manchester Bright Club, the comedy club where academics share their research through stand-up.