I was awarded a PhD in Tourism Management by the University of Westminster upon completion of my Doctoral research which focused on the Royal Opera House and its role in the perception and experience of Covent Garden. This study has richly informed my lecturing practice and has been disseminated in a variety of academic platforms.
Before joining Canterbury Christ University's Business School as a Senior Lecturer, I served as Course Leader and Subject Lead in tourism and hospitality at Buckinghamshire New University. Prior to this, I developed and led academic programmes in festivals and events management at Middlesex University at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Other roles in Higher Education include lecturing posts in tourism and events at London Metropolitan University and at the University of Westminster.
My teaching is rooted in several years working in the hospitality and tourism industries as a Customer Care Agent for the Royal Opera House and in events management/student services as a Resident Advisor at International Students House in London.
Having been extensively involved in supporting student employability, I conducted and published research on the best approaches to provide our students with the most ample set of skills and tools to ensure they secure the jobs they wish to pursue. I have also published on heritage tourism, cultural tourism and culinary tourism.
I was Buckinghamshire New University’s first academic to be awarded Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.