Vice-Chancellor and the University Executive Team

Our experienced University Executive Team (UET) is led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shân Wareing.

As a team and a community, we are committed to:

• flexible and accessible practice-led education
• impactful research
• strong engagement with professional practice
• addressing major global challenges.

About the Vice-Chancellor

Professor Shân Wareing

Professor Shân Wareing became Vice-Chancellor of Middlesex University in April 2024.

Before joining Middlesex, she was Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Northampton. Her other executive roles have included:

• Chief Operating Officer at London South Bank University
• Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching at Buckinghamshire New University.

Shân has led several institutional transformation programmes. At University of the Arts London, her work on assessment led to a 12% improvement in the assessment and feedback questions in the National Student Survey. This improvement was sustained for 10 years.

At London South Bank University, she led the digital transformation of the student journey. This work received a PwC award.

At the University of Northampton, she led recruitment improvements. These produced an increase in the recruitment of 18-year-old students compared with similar higher education institutions.

Shân’s first full-time role was Lecturer in English Language and Linguistics at the University of Roehampton. She later moved into educational development and became Co-Chair of the Staff and Educational Development Association.

Her current external roles include:

• Chair of the Unite Foundation charity
• Chair of Advance HE’s Leadership and Management Strategic Advisory Group
• Co-Chair of the Advance HE Leadership Framework Steering Group
• member of the Universities UK Board.

Shân has published research on:

• linguistics
• equality, diversity, and inclusion
• leadership and team development
• learning and teaching in higher education.

Her current academic interests include university leadership and governance from the perspective of diversity and inclusion. She is also interested in digital transformation and higher education policy.

Shân grew up in Swansea, Wales. She studied English Literature and Language at the University of Oxford, then Sociolinguistics at the University of Strathclyde.

She was a competitive rower for many years and holds a rowing half-blue from the University of Oxford.

Shân also holds a postgraduate diploma in Higher Education studies from the Institute of Education, University College London. She is:

• a Professor of Teaching in Higher Education
• a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• a National Teaching Fellow.

Vice-Chancellor's inauguration

On 15 January 2025, we celebrated the inauguration of Professor Shân Wareing as Vice-Chancellor. The ceremony marked the official start of her Vice-Chancellorship and a new era for the University. It also began the countdown to our 150-year anniversary in 2028.

Watch Shân’s speech from the ceremony to hear about her personal journey to Middlesex. She also explains what the role means to her and discusses the importance of higher education to individuals and communities.

Read a summary of Shân's speech

About the Executive

Chief Operating Officer and Chief Information Officer

James Smith

James Smith is our Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO). He joined Middlesex University as CIO in October 2024.

Before joining Middlesex, James worked at Birkbeck, University of London for 16 years. His roles included:

• CIO
• Director of Process Improvement and Corporate Information Systems
• Director of IT.

James studied Computer Science and holds an MBA in Higher Education Management from the University College London Institute of Education (UCL IOE).

Earlier in his career, he worked for SunGard Higher Education, now Ellucian. He helped universities, including Middlesex, implement and develop their Banner student systems.

James has been a Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association (UCISA) trustee since 2021. He is also Chair of UCISA’s Corporate Information Systems Group (CISG).

He has extensive experience of corporate system implementation from the customer and supplier perspectives. His work has covered institutional change, process discovery, and process improvement in:

• student systems
• HR
• payroll
• finance
• timetabling
• access control.

James has introduced agile working across professional services. He has also improved infrastructure resilience through modernisation and rationalisation.

He developed a Digital Education function that uses technology to support teaching and improve the student experience. He also established an integrated Information Services function that combines library and IT services.

As COO, James has overall responsibility for Professional Services across the University.

As CIO, he ensures that digital technologies inform all strategic decisions. He is responsible for the University’s Digital Strategy and leads Library, IT, and digital services.

Chief Financial Officer

Byron Hoo

Byron Hoo joined Middlesex as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in April 2026.

Byron is an experienced strategic financial leader. He has almost two decades of financial leadership experience across education, media, and global publishing.

His expertise includes:

• financial transformation
• organisational leadership
• purpose-driven stewardship.

Before joining Middlesex, Byron was CFO at Dulwich College. He helped deliver its financial recovery after Covid and led initiatives that strengthened its long-term sustainability, including international initiatives.

As CFO of Clear Channel UK, Byron led Finance, Procurement, and Legal through a period of digital transformation and business growth.

In earlier roles at Pearson and Edexcel, he led the finance function for Pearson’s UK education business. His work covered schools, higher education, further education, and work-based education.

Byron is a qualified chartered accountant.

As CFO, Byron leads the finance team. He ensures that the University maintains a robust and responsible financial position that responds to the changing needs of students, staff, and communities.

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Education and Student Experience

Dr Ellen Buck

Dr Ellen Buck joined Middlesex University as Pro Vice-Chancellor, Education and Student Experience in February 2025.

Before joining Middlesex, Ellen was Director of Learning and Teaching at the University of Suffolk. She was responsible for the Centre of Excellence in Learning and Teaching, Access and Participation, the Teaching Excellence Framework, Educational Development and Quality Enhancement, Student Experience and Library and Learning Services.

Ellen also led a Research Centre at Suffolk. Its work focused on widening access, social mobility, and pedagogic innovation. She has published research in these areas.

Ellen has extensive experience in transforming learning, teaching, and the student experience.

She led the University of Suffolk’s learning and teaching response to COVID-19. She then developed and introduced the Block and Blend method of curriculum design and delivery. Suffolk became the first UK university to introduce block delivery across undergraduate provision.

As a result, continuation rates increased by 13%. The University also achieved Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Silver in every component.

Ellen has worked with apprenticeships and helped secure an Ofsted rating of Good for the quality of learning and teaching. She has worked with further education and private providers in the UK and internationally.

She chaired the Quality Assurance Agency Subject Benchmark Statement review for Librarianship, Information, Knowledge, Records and Archives Management. She is also a member of the Advance HE Strategic Advisory Group for Teaching and Learning.

Ellen developed experience in managing library services at Falmouth University and in the Civil Service.

She holds:

• a degree in Italian
• a master’s degree in Information Management
• a Doctorate in Education.

Ellen is also a Principal Fellow of Advance HE.

As Pro Vice-Chancellor, Education and Student Experience, she provides strategic leadership for an excellent academic experience at Middlesex University. She also ensures that staff can access the support and development opportunities they need to excel.

Ellen promotes collaborative working and co-creation, with students at the centre of her leadership.

Pro Vice-Chancellor for Partnership, Portfolio, Impact and Innovation

Dr Sinead Mehigan

Dr Sinead Mehigan is Pro Vice-Chancellor for Partnerships, Portfolio, Impact and Innovation. She took up the role in September 2026.

Sinead joined Middlesex as Head of Nursing and Midwifery. She later became Interim Dean of the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education.

Her clinical background and doctoral research focused on perioperative nursing. Since 2007, she has held senior academic and leadership roles across Higher Education, clinical practice, and external healthcare organisations.

Sinead has led regional and national workforce development initiatives. These include a secondment with Health Education England and the North Central London Integrated Care System.

More recently, she was Associate Programme Director for the North Central London Capital Nurse Nursing Workforce Programme. She led work on:

• workforce retention
• practice-based learning
• educational innovation.

These experiences strengthened her commitment to sustainable healthcare workforces and opportunities for professional learning and development.

Sinead’s academic interests include:

• leadership
• anaesthetic and perioperative nursing
• preceptorship
• workforce development
• nursing retention
• supporting learners in practice.

Her academic work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters.

As Pro Vice-Chancellor for Partnerships, Portfolio, Impact and Innovation, Sinead leads the delivery of the University’s strategic ambitions for a future-focused academic portfolio.

Her responsibilities cover:

• external engagement
• research and knowledge exchange
• civic impact.

She works with partners across education, healthcare, industry, and the community. These partnerships strengthen collaboration and maximise the University’s contribution at local, regional, and national levels.

Outside the University, Sinead is a Trustee Governor at a local school. This role reflects her commitment to education and community engagement.

Dean, Faculty of Business and Law

Professor Martin Broad

Professor Martin Broad is Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law. The Faculty includes the Business School and the School of Law and Social Sciences.

Martin has more than 30 years of experience in higher education. His previous roles include Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Business, Law and Digital Technologies at the University of Winchester; Head of Southampton University Business School (a QS 100 and Russell Group institution) and Vice Chair of the Chartered Association of Business Schools Council.

He also holds an honorary professorship from Amity University, India.

Martin is a successful entrepreneur and a chartered management accountant. He has provided clear leadership throughout his previous appointments.

At the University of Southampton, he secured initial Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation for the Business School. He also secured reaccreditation from the Association of MBAs (AMBA).

At the University of Winchester Business School, he secured the Small Business Charter.

Martin has supervised more than 12 doctoral students to completion. His research interests include governance and performance management in the public sector, particularly in higher education.

He holds a PhD in this area from the University of Bath.

Dean, Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries

Professor Gareth Williams

Professor Gareth Williams is Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries.

Gareth was previously Professor of Design and Head of the Design Department at Middlesex University. He later became Deputy Dean for Education in the Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries.

Before joining Middlesex University in 2016, Gareth was Curator of Modern and Contemporary Design at the Victoria and Albert Museum. He curated exhibitions and permanent gallery displays and published widely on contemporary design practice.

He later joined the Royal College of Art as Senior Tutor in Design Products. He subsequently became Reader in Design Curating.

These roles shaped his view of design as a powerful social practice. They also inform his commitment to preparing Middlesex students for successful careers in the creative industries.

At Middlesex, Gareth has gained Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. He has also completed an MBA in Senior Leadership.

Gareth played an important role in developing Middlesex College in Hainan, China. This joint institute with Minzu University China focuses on creative disciplines. He serves on its Joint Management Board.

Outside the University, Gareth is Chair of the Gabo Trust for Sculpture Conservation. The charity supports the conservation of modern and contemporary sculpture.

Through this role, he helps preserve culturally significant works. It also brings together his interests in creative education, the creative industries, and museum practice.

Dean, Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education

Dr David Cousens

Dr David Cousens is Dean of the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education.

He was previously Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health, Sport and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Northampton. He oversaw programmes governed by professional, statutory, and regulatory body requirements.

David worked with teams to ensure that programmes met expected standards. He also focused on providing a strong student experience and supporting successful careers.

His experience includes oversight of:

• apprenticeships
• research
• work to improve the staff experience.

Throughout his career, David has worked with internal and external stakeholders. He is committed to partnerships that improve outcomes for students and local communities.

Before joining higher education, he worked in schools as a teacher, deputy headteacher, and headteacher.

David has held several senior leadership roles. These reflect his commitment to education and to improving education, health, and wellbeing.

He is a trustee of the Council of Deans. This organisation represents UK universities involved in education and research for nursing, midwifery, and allied health.

The Council promotes collaborative work to improve healthcare education, research, and public health.

David is also a Governor at a school in Northamptonshire.

Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology

Professor Klaus Dodds

Professor Klaus Dodds is Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology.

Before joining Middlesex, he was Executive Dean of the School of Life Sciences and Environment at Royal Holloway, University of London, from 2022 to 2025. He had been Professor of Geopolitics there since 2005. He was also the University Lead for Environmental Sustainability.

Klaus began his career at the University of Edinburgh. He joined Royal Holloway in 1994.

His research and publications focus on geopolitics, including:

• border disputes
• polar governance
• ocean governance
• health geopolitics in the pandemic era.

Klaus received the Philip Leverhulme Prize for Geography in 2005. He became a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in 2012.

In 2017, the Leverhulme Trust awarded him a Major Research Fellowship.

He is also a Fellow of:

• the Royal Geographical Society
• the Regional Studies Association
• the Higher Education Academy.

Klaus was born in Middlesex and spent his early years in Ickenham. He completed his PhD at the University of Bristol in 1994.

He has held visiting fellowships at St Cross College and St John’s College, University of Oxford. He has also been a Visiting Professor at the College of Europe in Warsaw.

During the past decade, Klaus has served as a specialist adviser to:

• the UK Houses of Parliament
• NATO’s Strategic Foresight Analysis
• the European Parliament
• companies working in oil, gas, insurance, and shipping.

His books include Border Wars (Penguin, 2022) and Unfrozen: The Fight for the Future of the Arctic (Yale University Press, 2025). His next book will examine land grabbing and spheres of influence.

Summary of University Executive Team responsibilities

The Vice-Chancellor

• leads the organisation
• is accountable to the Chair and the Governors
• acts under explicit delegations
• develops the strategic approach with the University Executive Team.

The University Executive Team

• ensures delivery of the University’s mission
• develops the strategic approach with the Vice-Chancellor
• carries out individual responsibilities determined by the Vice-Chancellor.

Contact us

Academic Board

The Academic Board is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor. It comprises 30 members who advise on student recruitment and retention, the curriculum, assessment, and examinations.

The Academic Board provides advice on:

• general matters relating to research, scholarship, teaching, and courses at the University
• criteria for admitting students
• the appointment and removal of internal and external examiners
• the assessment and examination of students’ academic performance
• curriculum content
• academic standards and the validation and review of courses
• the award of qualifications and honorary academic titles
• the expulsion of students for academic reasons
• the development of academic activities and relevant resources.