Meet the team

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.

Vijay Hare

Research Assistant

Vijay Hare is a research assistant in the Knowledge Exchange and Impact Team providing support to public engagement activities and with the implementation of the Knowledge Exchange Concordat. He also helps with the management of social media to communicate and disseminate RIKE activities across the Directorate. 

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 Omar

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.

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.

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. 

Syamim Sirajudin (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.