Meet the team

Director's Office

Professor Simonetta Manfredi

Director of Research, Innovation and Enterprise

Simonetta leads the Directorate and works closely with the PVC for Research and Global Partnerships to provide leadership for the implementation of strategies, policies and to support activities that underpin the university’s ambitions for Research & Innovation as set out in the R&I Pillar of the 2035 Strategy.

She also works closely with the Associate Directors on the strategic development of university-wide policies relating to research support and governance, KE and impact and entrepreneurship.

She represents and promotes the university RI&E community and its activities regionally, nationally and internationally and engages in forums related to policy development at regional, national and international levels.

Christie Walker

Deputy Director and Associate Director Research Support & Governance

Christie provides strategic leadership for the Research Support & Governance team (RSG), which encompasses the Pre-award, Post-award (including contracts), Research Culture and Practice, and Researcher Development functions. The RSG team works closely with the research community to support and enable excellent research and a positive, vibrant research culture at Brookes.

Christie and the RSG team are responsible for developing and delivering a range of systems, policies, processes, governance structures and reporting related to research. This includes providing support for statutory reports and returns such as HE-BCI, in collaboration with colleagues in RIE and other Directorates. In addition, Christie oversees the administrative support and management of the University's REF2029 preparation and submission, working closely with colleagues in RIE, the Faculties and other Directorates.

Bev Blackman

Office Manager & PA to the Director

Bev provides support and administrative assistance to the Director and teams. She also manages, guides and advises on various day to day processes (HR confidential personnel matters/recruitment/etc, finance, and general administration/issues, induction and IT), as well as managing the Director's diary and liaising with staff on her behalf.

Matty Mathe

Communication and Engagement Officer

Matty supports the Directorate for Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) in the publicity and promotion of Oxford Brookes University’s Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange activities. He specialises in developing and executing comprehensive public engagement campaigns and creating digital and printed publications and webpages. Additionally, he organises and promotes research events to enhance the university's public engagement.

Helen Roberts

Research, Innovation and Enterprise Finance Manager

Helen provides support and guidance to the Director of RIE and the Associate Directors with all aspects of management accounting and financial reporting. She ensures that the Directorate Funds are appropriately managed and provides overall financial control of the directorate’s budgets. She manages the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) and the Central Research Fund (CRF) budgets, as well as working with the RIE IP and Commercialisation Manager to ensure appropriate distribution of royalties, and to manage the financial aspects of the IP portfolio. Helen also provides post-award support for externally funded research and consultancy projects, as required.

Sara Garcia

Research, Innovation and Enterprise Administrator

Sara provides administrative and financial support across the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Directorate. She assists the RIE Finance Manager with managing the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) and the Central Research Fund (CRF). She also helps the Office Manager with administrative duties, supports the Director of RIE and wider teams and helps with events.

Knowledge Exchange and Impact Team

Carol McAnally

Associate Director Knowledge Exchange & Impact

Carol drives the implementation of Oxford Brookes' strategy and policies for knowledge exchange and impact. Her expertise and leadership support best practices and foster partnerships with business and industry. Carol creates synergistic partnerships to amplify the impact of the University's knowledge exchange and impact initiatives.

Dr Ellie Beaman

Public and Community Engagement Coordinator

Ellie is involved in the development and implementation of the university’s public engagement with research (PER) strategy. She supports and encourages research-active staff and students with opportunities, skill development, and creative idea generation to deliver and communicate excellent PER. Ellie is also the event manager for the Oxford Brookes Science Bazaar.

Lidiya Talbot

Research Impact Manager

Maternity cover.

Lauren McIntyre

Research Impact Manager

Lauren leads and participates in, developing the ways that the University engages with and shares its research with private, public and civil society sectors to enable and facilitate high quality impacts. She helps promote the University externally as a knowledge partner for private, public and civil society sectors.

Kevin Maynard

Business Development Manager, AI & Data – General

Kevin is responsible for developing and implementing business development strategies to drive growth and increase revenue. He works closely with researchers, academics, and industry partners to identify new opportunities and develop partnerships that leverage the university's cutting-edge research and expertise in AI and data.

Anna Verghese

Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Manager and Consultant

Anna connects businesses and other organisations with our academic experts to work on KTPs. She provides advice and guidance throughout the process of application for a KTP to InnovateUK as well as post-award support.

Researcher Development Team

Jennie Cripps

Researcher Development Manager

Jennie works in training and development for research-active staff. She manages the University Research & KE Training programme and the University Research Staff Mentoring Scheme. She also convenes the University’s Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers Working Group and is responsible for annual external reporting on its work supporting our Contract Researchers and their Managers.

Katie Whitlock

Researcher Development Officer

Katie supports the training and development for research-active staff. In this role, she works on the continued expansion of the University Research & Knowledge Exchange Training programme, the development of the Research-Only Staff Network and promotes good news and events in Researcher Development.

Pre-Award Team

Steven Radley

Research Funding Officer & Pre-Award Team Leader

Steven leads the Pre-Award team in Research Support and Governance, supporting academics across the University to submit externally funded research grant applications. His responsibilities also include managing and maintaining Worktribe, the University's research and consultancy costing tool.

Dr Gareth Preston

Research Funding Officer

Gareth supports centrally managed research processes across the University. He advises academic colleagues on all matters relating to the submission of research bids to a range of external funding organisations (e.g. research councils, charities, etc.) and has particular expertise in EU funding. He ensures the bids are correctly costed, in line with university policies and compliant with all terms and conditions. He also manages the Research Funding Administrator.

Ruzena Zemanova

Research Funding Administrator

As a pre-award Research Funding Administrator, Ruzena supports researchers, mostly within OxInAHR, with submitting their research grant applications, primarily in health and related academic disciplines. This ranges from discussing and reviewing the early drafts of their applications, costing them, advising on the SoECAT (if needed) and advising on all aspects, including the final reviews, as well as liaising with Faculty Research Offices.

Yonas Hirutu

Research Funding Administrator

As the Research Funding Administrator Yonas seeks to develop and promote research support and to optimise opportunities for funded research. He works closely with academic staff applying for external grants to ensure that bids are submitted in a timely manner.

Post-Award Team

Kevin Henderson

Contracts Manager & Post Award Team Leader

Kevin is responsible for reviewing and implementing mainly research and consultancy contracts, and ensuring the University’s interests are protected. This can include collaboration agreements with several partners and Non-Disclosure Agreements. The Contracts team has Service Levels help to ensure contracts are dealt with in a timely manner.

Mieke Tyrrell

Post Award Processes Officer

Mieke manages the Post Awards processes relating to Research projects. This involves assisting Faculties through the life cycles of projects to keep expenditure in line with prescribed terms and conditions, preparing interim and final financial statements for funders, and sorting out the logistics of QR income and its distribution to budget holders.

Bronwen Hex

Contracts Officer

Bronwen's work involves preparing and reviewing research and consultancy contracts whilst ensuring compliance of University procedures before signing.

Research Culture and Practice Team

Dr Robyn Curtis

Research Culture & Practice Team Manager

Robyn and her team provide support, training and advice to staff and research students on research ethics, as well as ensuring their research activities are compliant with UK and international legislation, funders requirements and best practice in ‘Trusted Research’. Working with researchers and professional services colleagues across the University to identify, mitigate and manage risks connected with research collaborations, including ensuring appropriate data capture within the University’s research management systems.

Misbah Omer

Research Ethics Administrator

Misbah supports the research ethics application process for staff and research students at Oxford Brookes, providing vital assistance to ensure all research undertaken at the University is delivered in an ethical and appropriate manner.

Joseph Corneli

Open Research Project Manager

Joseph is part of a consortium funded by Research England, and he is working to accelerate the development of open research practices at both Oxford Brookes University and across the sector. His commitments are primarily focused on the Training workstream. In addition to these responsibilities, he also serves as the UKRN Local Network Lead, representing the grassroots network of researchers at Brookes within the UK Reproducibility Network.

Lauren Morry

University Research Ethics Officer

Lauren supports safe and ethical conduct in research studies carried out by staff and doctoral research students at the University. She advises on each stage of the ethics process, from the initial application to approval and any subsequent amendments. Through the University Research Ethics Committee (UREC) and its subcommittees, she works with Faculty Research Ethics Officers to review and provide feedback on applications. She also creates and delivers training to support the practice of research ethics across the University.

Nina Lewin

Research Data Manager

With a wealth of experience in research support, digital curation, and data management, she brings a unique perspective to our team. Having worked in a complex environment, she understands the challenges that come with data management, especially when working with limited resources. She has extensive knowledge of free software and is committed to helping researchers navigate the world of data management.

Enterprise Team

Dr Philip Clegg

Associate Director - Enterprise

Philip's role provides strategic direction for enterprise and entrepreneurship activity at the university. Leading the Enterprise Team, their combined activities include enterprise in the curriculum, enabling student and graduate start-up, and the development of the Oxford Brookes Enterprise Centre.

Howard Feather

Business Start-Up Manager

Howard is the Business Start-Up manager. Based in the Enterprise Centre, Howard and team of Start-Up advisors give all students and graduates support with any and all of their business ideas from pre-concept all the way through to fully operational status. Come and meet Howard and the team in the Enterprise Centre to move your business idea forward to the next level.

Sarah Irons

Enterprise Centre & BioInnovation Hub Manager

Sarah manages the Oxford Brookes Enterprise Centre and Bioinnovation Hub, which provide lab and office space for start-up early stage life science and digital tech companies. With her combination of research and lab management experience, and strong connections within the University and local innovation ecosystem, she is perfectly positioned to ensure companies are well-supported so they can focus on growth.

Nav Krishna Viswanathan

Enterprise Centre Assistant

Nav manages and plans the Centre’s marketing and operations, creating and sharing content such as infographics for its website and social media channels. He also generates invoices and processing payments for the Centre’s services, and oversees all administrative day to day tasks.

Mim

Business Start-up Advisor

Mim brings a wealth of expertise in business management and entrepreneurship to the university as a Business Start-up Advisor. With a proven track record, including the launch of his own modern Malaysian food start-up (Popiah) and extensive experience supporting clients across various industries; food and beverage, fashion, music, technology to health and wellness. He excels in the art of business planning, crafting compelling pitch decks, and delivering practical guidance. His specialisation in mentoring international students adds a unique dimension to his advisory skills. He remains dedicated to nurturing the ambitions of emerging entrepreneurs, promoting a culture of innovation, and cultivating a dynamic start-up ecosystem within the university.

Dr Afroditi Pekou

Enterprise Support Coordinator

Afroditi ensures the smooth and coordinated delivery of Brookes Enterprise Support programmes and leads on our evaluation of our Business Engagement work. She also provides support across the team by utilising her broad professional skill set to deliver our wide range of initiatives and interventions.

Unai Ledesma Gorostizaga

Business Start-up Advisor

Unai is a startup support specialist who focuses on helping entrepreneurs create market fit by making them aware of the problems that customers face. Unai also understands the power of networking and uses it to inspire students and take their businesses to the next level.

Dr Samia Kamal

Enterprise Education Fellow

Samia is an Enterprise Education Fellow, where she leads enterprise and entrepreneurship education practices within the curriculum with appropriate adaptations for different disciplines, which provides an integrated approach to entrepreneurship, research, and enterprise within the curriculum and as part of our students’ broader development. Samia is also a National Teaching Fellow, and has been recognised on a national level for her enterprise education work and impact across the Institution to inspire and influence her colleagues.

Dr Gary Jennings

Senior Technology Transfer Manager

Gary is an experienced TTM, helping our researchers in their entrepreneurial efforts to move ideas and inventions to the marketplace, via licensing, spin-outs, partnerships and other commercialisation routes. Previously, Gary worked in technology transfer in UK, Germany and Switzerland, and in executive positions in biotech companies in Germany and the US.

Lina Cox

Technology Transfer Manager

Lina works with academics to protect and commercialise their research, helping them build IP portfolios which can be licenced or used in the creation of spin-out companies. She also assists in the management of existing IP rights at the university. Lina previously qualified as a European patent attorney, so has particular expertise in the field of patent applications and prosecution.