Professor Jenn Hallam  

• Email: vp-tls@manchester.ac.uk  

• vp-tls@manchester.ac.uk

Professor Rebecca Hodgson   

Rebecca will provide strategic leadership for the development, enhancement, and assurance of the University’s taught portfolio. She will lead institutional curriculum reviews and drive assessment reform to ensure our programmes remain academically excellent and responsive to future students’ needs. Central to her role is strengthening the student voice in curriculum design and embedding employability, sustainability, and social responsibility as core outcomes for all graduates.  

Rebecca is a teacher educator and Professor of Higher Education, and has held a range of senior leadership roles at the University and beyond, most recently Associate Dean for Teaching, Learning and Student Experience in the Faculty of Humanities. Nationally, she is an Independent Assessor for Advance HE, and her research and scholarship focus on professional identity in higher education, belonging and mattering across both staff and student experience. 

• Connect with Rebecca via email or on LinkedIn 

Professor Rob Appleby  

Rob will provide academic leadership for the entire student journey, including admissions, access, and student success. He will promote student wellbeing and belonging, working closely with the Students’ Union to ensure the student voice informs University governance. He will also lead initiatives to improve student outcomes, experience, and satisfaction, including our performance in the National Student Survey (NSS).   

Rob is Professor of Accelerator Physics and has held a number of senior education leadership posts including Discipline Head of Education in Physics and Astronomy and School Head of Education for Natural Sciences. Rob’s research focuses on the physics of particle accelerators and he has an interest in public engagement and science communication.  

• Connect with Rob via email,  on Research Explorer and LinkedIn   

Professor Sarah Dyer  

Sarah will lead the development and recognition of excellent teaching. She will oversee initiatives to improve teaching quality, support staff development in line with national and international standards and provide academic leadership across teaching and scholarship pathways. Her work will ensure that innovations, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Partner Enabled Learning (PEL), are integrated into the curriculum and assessments to directly benefit students.  

Sarah is a human geographer who has published widely on work, care, and innovative and compassionate pedagogies. She holds a Principal Fellowship of Advance HE and a National Teaching Fellowship. She is a champion of human-centred design in H.E.  

• Connect with Sarah via email, on Research Explorer and LinkedIn   

Professor Colette Fagan 

• Email: colette.fagan@manchester.ac.uk

Dianne Petcu 

• dianne.petcu@manchester.ac.uk  

Professor Richard Curry 

• richard.curry@manchester.ac.uk

Professor Melissa Westwood  

• melissa.westwood@manchester.ac.uk  

Professor Chris Taylor  

• chris.taylor@manchester.ac.uk  

Professor Steve Flint   

• stephen.flint@manchester.ac.uk  

Professor Angelia Wilson  

Angie will work closely with Professor Colette Fagan, Vice President for Research, to lead the design and implementation of the international delivery plan for our University strategy across teaching, research and innovation.  Angie will work alongside Professor Steve Flint, Associate Vice-President for International, who retains lead responsibility for specific international projects until his term of office finishes in July 2026. 

Angie is Professor of Politics in the School of Social Sciences. She joined the University in 1994 and previously served as Associate Dean for international in the Faculty of Humanities. Externally, Angie chairs the GMCA Manchester-Austin Sister City Committee, was Chair of the Political Studies Association (UK) and served on the Executive of the American Political Science Association. 

• Connect with Angie via email, on Research Explorer and LinkedIn   

Professor John Holden  

• john.holden@manchester.ac.uk   

Professor Aline Miller  

Aline’s focus will be on building a vibrant, connected innovation community across the University—empowering students, colleagues and alumni to push boundaries and rapidly translate research and teaching into real-world social, environmental and economic impact. Working closely with academic and PS leaders and public and private sector partners, Aline will drive the design of streamlined systems that turn ideas into action faster. All driven by a clear commitment to raise ambition and enable delivery of a shared vision: Manchester as Europe’s most inclusive and impactful innovation ecosystem. 

Aline joined the University in 2002 and is Chief Scientific Officer of Unit M as well as Professor of Biomolecular Engineering within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. She is Director of the NW Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Catalyst and her contributions were recently honoured with the 2025 Educate North Leadership and Innovation Award. 

• Connect with Aline  via email, on Research Explorer and LinkedIn   

Lisa Gledhill  

• lisa.gledhill@manchester.ac.uk  

Professor Nalin Thakkar 

• n.thakker@manchester.ac.uk  

Elaine Birtwhistle  

• elaine.birtwistle@manchester.ac.uk  

Professor Mahesh Nirmalan  

Mahesh will work closely with Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility and April Lockyer, Head of Research Governance, Ethics and Integrity, to develop and implement the University’s approach to promoting responsible research practices, ensuring they are delivered to the highest standards of integrity. They will also develop policies and processes that identify and mitigate risks to assure compliance with the regulations and legislation that govern research.   

A Professor in Medical Education and Training, Mahesh has held multiple roles in Manchester Medical School, served as FBMH Vice Dean for Social Responsibility and Public Engagement and was the interim Deputy Dean of the Faculty from September 2022 – August 2023.  He is a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine at Manchester Royal Infirmary, and Visiting Professor in Post-Conflict studies, University of Gulu, Uganda     

• Connect with Mahesh via email, on Research Explorer and LinkedIn  

Professor John McAuliffe  

John will work collaboratively with Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility, the broader University Executive and Cultural Institution leadership to advance and coordinate activity across the University’s cultural portfolio, including its Cultural Institutions.  He will also help build connections and partnerships locally, across the country, and internationally.  

John joined the University in 2004 and is Professor of Poetry as well as the Director of the Creative Manchester research platform. He joined the University in 2004 and in 2007 founded, with Ian McGuire, the Centre for New Writing. He served as Deputy Director of the Irish Arts Council (2013-2018) and is also Associate Publisher at the leading independent poetry press, Carcanet, co-editor of the international journal PN Review, and a trustee of Manchester's UNESCO City of Literature .  

• Connect with John via email, on Research Explorer and LinkedIn