Following completion of an honours degree in Economics, she worked for the Tube Investments group for ten years in variety of management roles. She has a strong reputation of academic leadership including major change projects in strategic academic development, curriculum design, widening access, partnerships and quality. This leadership experience includes merger which resulted in the formation of her current university.
Her research interests and publications are in the fields of organisational change and collaboration within Higher Education. She is Chair of Universities Wales, Deputy Chair of UCEA and of University Alliance and a board member of Universities UK, UAE-UK Bus Council, Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, National Council for Universities and Businesses, CBI Wales and Newport Economic Network.