Helen is an academic member of staff in the department of applied sciences at Northumbria University. Helen realised the transformative impact that work based and placement learning (WBPL) could have, after witnessing a student progress from barely passing their first year, to obtaining a 1st class degree and progress to PhD research after undertaking a 2nd year placement. This inspired Helen to pursue WBPL enhancement opportunities for her students and Helen has since enabled WBPL experience to be recorded within the student HEAR, worked with employers to develop skills-based learning opportunities whilst on an HESTEM funded WBL-project, and supported an institutional review leading to a more flexible WBL-framework.

In her academic role, Helen has the opportunity to develop resources, activities and interventions to promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, identifying perceived barriers to engagement in work based and placement learning and brings this expertise to the board of ASET Trustees.

Helen chairs the Research Group.