Contact Us

For general Business Engagement enquiries please email businessteam@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Directorate

Gurmit Kler - Director of Business Engagement

g.kler@bham.ac.uk

Gurmit leads the Business Engagement team in the delivery of its strategy, setting KPIs and monitoring progress against targets across all the colleges.

Vickie Pargetter - Deputy Director of Business Engagement/Strategic Business Engagement Partner for the College of Arts and Law and the College of Social Sciences

V.A.Pargetter@bham.ac.uk

Vickie supports the delivery of the overarching Business Engagement strategy and is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of the business engagement strategy within CoSS and CAL, ensuring that resulting opportunities are delivered with key internal and external stakeholders.

College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Alasdair Maclachlan - Strategic Business Engagement Partner, Engineering and Physical Sciences

a.maclachlan@bham.ac.uk +44 (0)7920 878578

Alasdair is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of the business engagement strategy within EPS, ensuring that resulting opportunities are delivered with key internal and external stakeholders. He also supports the University’s business engagement in the following sectors:

Space

Advanced Manufacturing (both material science and engineering)

Jack Tasker - Business Engagement Partner, Engineering and Physical Sciences

J.B.Tasker@bham.ac.uk  +44 (0)7970 987037

Jack supports the University’s engagement between industry and our academic body in the following sectors:

Fast moving consumer goods

Healthcare technologies

Smart infrastructure

Rachael Draper - Business Engagement Partner, Birmingham Energy Institute

(Currently on parental leave)

r.l.draper@bham.ac.uk +44 (0)7980 750902

Rachael is the Business Engagement Partner for the Birmingham Energy Institute, brokering wider University partnerships with industry in energy based research and technologies, and energy storage solutions.

Nick Haigh - Business Engagement Partner, Engineering and Physical Sciences

n.haigh@bham.ac.uk +44 (0)7796 992966

Nick supports the University’s engagement with the following sectors:

Defence

Transport and propulsion focussed Energy research

Cyber security

Max Turner - Business Engagement Manager, Quantum Technology Hub

M.J.Turner@bham.ac.uk

Working with the Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Timing, Max supports companies interested in exploiting quantum technology and how this science might support future product development.

Nikolaos Venetsaneas - Research and Knowledge Transfer Fellow, Energy Infrastructure

N.Venetsaneas@bham.ac.uk

Nik supports business engagement activities, relationships, and research collaborations for the University of Birmingham’s National Buried Infrastructure Facility (NBIF) and Civil Engineering academics.

NBIF is part of the UK Collaboratorium for Research on Infrastructure and Cities. It is a ‘state-of-the-art’ facility for research, education, and training in buried infrastructure-ground interaction systems and is open to collaborations with industrial stakeholders, businesses, academia, government bodies and local partnerships.

College of Medical and Dental Sciences and College of Life Sciences

Richard Fox - Strategic Business Engagement Partner, Life Sciences

r.fox@bham.ac.uk  +44 (0)7964 908 616

Richard is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of the business engagement strategy within the Colleges of Medical and Dental Sciences and Life and Environmental Sciences as well as with Birmingham Health Partners and leads the business engagement team across these areas. Richard is also responsible for industry stakeholder engagement for the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus.

Florence Gannon - Business Engagement Partner, Medical and Dental Sciences

f.gannon@bham.ac.uk  Mobile: +44 (0)7920 088772 Direct line: +44 (0)121 371 8475

Florence is responsible for the development and implementation of the business engagement strategy within MDS. Florence covers the following areas:

Cancer and Genomics

Immunology and Immunotherapy

Microbiology and Infection

Clinical trials

Joanna Smith - Business Engagement Partner, Medical and Dental Sciences

j.l.j.smith@bham.ac.uk Direct line: +44 (0)121 371 8476 Mobile: +44 (0)7967 771 347

Joanna is responsible for the development and implementation of the business engagement strategy within MDS. She identifies opportunities to collaborate with industry and has a keen focus on promoting the translational aspects of research. Joanna is currently working closely with the following Institutes:

Inflammation and Ageing

Applied Health

Health Data

Jessica Stede - Business Engagement Partner, Medical and Dental Sciences

(Currently on parental leave)

j.stede@bham.ac.uk +44 (0) 7966 996429

Jessica works across the Birmingham Health Partners medical campus, helping to bring investigator-led research collaborations to fruition. Jessica's focus is on:

Cardiovascular Sciences

Metabolism and Systems Research

Clinical Sciences

Holly Searson - Business Engagement Partner, Life and Environmental Sciences

h.l.searson@bham.ac.uk   + 44 (0)7970 397 568

Holly is responsible for the development and implementation of the business engagement strategy within LES focusing on areas such as healthy ageing, air pollution and mental health.

The College of Social Sciences

James Sharp - Business Engagement Partner, Social Sciences

j.s.sharp@bham.ac.uk

James is responsible for the development and implementation of the business engagement strategy within CoSS with a specialism in AI and emerging technologies.

Andrew Miles - Corporate Relations Manager, Birmingham Business School

a.t.miles@bham.ac.uk

Andrew leads on the delivery of Birmingham Business School's corporate strategy, as well as managing key accounts that contribute to the University of Birmingham's business engagement mandate. Andrew works closely with the different research centres at the Business School to identify the best means of creating external partnerships and matching graduate talent, research expertise, and academic consultancy to a range of businesses and not-for-profit organisations. He also manages the Business School’s Advisory

International

Bing Liu - Business Engagement Partner

b.liu.2@bham.ac.uk

Bing is Business Engagement Partner with a focus on Asia.

Degree Apprenticeships

Sam Hickman - Degree Apprenticeships and Continuous Improvement Manager

S.J.Hickman@bham.ac.uk +44 (0)7976 230 204

Sam is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of the Degree Apprenticeship strategy at the University. Working with teams across the University and its constituent Colleges, Sam develops and supports relationship and contract management with employers involved in the provision of Degree Apprenticeships. Sam also leads on Continuous Improvement activity within the Business Engagement team.

Marketing and Communications Team

Helen Toft - Head of Marketing and Communications

H.M.Toft@bham.ac.uk

Helen focuses on the business engagements team's communications strategy.

Digital Project Manager

This role is involve developing strategies and action plans for content and digital platforms focused on business to ensure this is in line with the strategies of the team, the Colleges, and the University.

Lauren Davies - Events Manager

l.j.walsh@bham.ac.uk

Lauren manages the business engagement events programme and works across digital communications projects with a focus on sponsorship and exhibitions. Lauren supports business engagement communications for the College of Medical and Dental Sciences, the College of Social Sciences and the College of Arts and Law.

Laura Myatt - Events Manager (Laura is currently away on secondment)

L.Myatt@bham.ac.uk

Laura manages the business engagement events programme and works across digital communications projects with a focus on reputation development. Laura supports business engagement communications for the College of Life and Environmental Sciences.

Ryan Storey - Digital Marketing Assistant

r.storey.1@bham.ac.uk

Under the direction of the Business Engagement Events Manager, Ryan is responsible for undertaking and co-ordinating marketing and communications activities for University of Birmingham’s Business Engagement Marketing and Communications team, College business engagement partners, and other associated University departments as required, as well as working closely with academic colleagues to deliver high quality marketing materials, events and other promotional activities.

Administration Team

Jazz Jemahl - PA to Gurmit Kler, Director of Business Engagement and Alisa Brown Director of Research & Support Services

j.jemahl@bham.ac.uk

Tracy Shepherd - Business Engagement Administrator

t.shepherd@bham.ac.uk

Contracts Team

Suki Mpofu - Business Engagement Contracts Officer

n.mpofu@bham.ac.uk

	Directorate
	Gurmit Kler - Director of Business Engagement g.kler@bham.ac.uk Gurmit leads the Business Engagement team in the delivery of its strategy, setting KPIs and monitoring progress against targets across all the colleges.
	Vickie Pargetter - Deputy Director of Business Engagement/Strategic Business Engagement Partner for the College of Arts and Law and the College of Social Sciences V.A.Pargetter@bham.ac.uk Vickie supports the delivery of the overarching Business Engagement strategy and is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of the business engagement strategy within CoSS and CAL, ensuring that resulting opportunities are delivered with key internal and external stakeholders.

	College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
	Alasdair Maclachlan - Strategic Business Engagement Partner, Engineering and Physical Sciences a.maclachlan@bham.ac.uk +44 (0)7920 878578 Alasdair is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of the business engagement strategy within EPS, ensuring that resulting opportunities are delivered with key internal and external stakeholders. He also supports the University’s business engagement in the following sectors: Space Advanced Manufacturing (both material science and engineering)
	Jack Tasker - Business Engagement Partner, Engineering and Physical Sciences J.B.Tasker@bham.ac.uk +44 (0)7970 987037 Jack supports the University’s engagement between industry and our academic body in the following sectors: Fast moving consumer goods Healthcare technologies Smart infrastructure
	Rachael Draper - Business Engagement Partner, Birmingham Energy Institute *(Currently on parental leave)* r.l.draper@bham.ac.uk +44 (0)7980 750902 Rachael is the Business Engagement Partner for the Birmingham Energy Institute, brokering wider University partnerships with industry in energy based research and technologies, and energy storage solutions.
	Nick Haigh - Business Engagement Partner, Engineering and Physical Sciences n.haigh@bham.ac.uk +44 (0)7796 992966 Nick supports the University’s engagement with the following sectors: Defence Transport and propulsion focussed Energy research Cyber security
	Max Turner - Business Engagement Manager, Quantum Technology Hub M.J.Turner@bham.ac.uk Working with the Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Timing, Max supports companies interested in exploiting quantum technology and how this science might support future product development.
	Nikolaos Venetsaneas - Research and Knowledge Transfer Fellow, Energy Infrastructure N.Venetsaneas@bham.ac.uk Nik supports business engagement activities, relationships, and research collaborations for the University of Birmingham’s National Buried Infrastructure Facility (NBIF) and Civil Engineering academics. NBIF is part of the UK Collaboratorium for Research on Infrastructure and Cities. It is a ‘state-of-the-art’ facility for research, education, and training in buried infrastructure-ground interaction systems and is open to collaborations with industrial stakeholders, businesses, academia, government bodies and local partnerships.

	College of Medical and Dental Sciences and College of Life Sciences
	Richard Fox - Strategic Business Engagement Partner, Life Sciences r.fox@bham.ac.uk +44 (0)7964 908 616 Richard is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of the business engagement strategy within the Colleges of Medical and Dental Sciences and Life and Environmental Sciences as well as with Birmingham Health Partners and leads the business engagement team across these areas. Richard is also responsible for industry stakeholder engagement for the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus.
	Florence Gannon - Business Engagement Partner, Medical and Dental Sciences f.gannon@bham.ac.uk Mobile: +44 (0)7920 088772 Direct line: +44 (0)121 371 8475 Florence is responsible for the development and implementation of the business engagement strategy within MDS. Florence covers the following areas: Cancer and Genomics Immunology and Immunotherapy Microbiology and Infection Clinical trials
	Joanna Smith - Business Engagement Partner, Medical and Dental Sciences j.l.j.smith@bham.ac.uk Direct line: +44 (0)121 371 8476 Mobile: +44 (0)7967 771 347 Joanna is responsible for the development and implementation of the business engagement strategy within MDS. She identifies opportunities to collaborate with industry and has a keen focus on promoting the translational aspects of research. Joanna is currently working closely with the following Institutes: Inflammation and Ageing Applied Health Health Data
	Jessica Stede - Business Engagement Partner, Medical and Dental Sciences *(Currently on parental leave)* j.stede@bham.ac.uk +44 (0) 7966 996429 Jessica works across the Birmingham Health Partners medical campus, helping to bring investigator-led research collaborations to fruition. Jessica's focus is on: Cardiovascular Sciences Metabolism and Systems Research Clinical Sciences
	Holly Searson - Business Engagement Partner, Life and Environmental Sciences h.l.searson@bham.ac.uk + 44 (0)7970 397 568 Holly is responsible for the development and implementation of the business engagement strategy within LES focusing on areas such as healthy ageing, air pollution and mental health.
	The College of Social Sciences
	James Sharp - Business Engagement Partner, Social Sciences j.s.sharp@bham.ac.uk James is responsible for the development and implementation of the business engagement strategy within CoSS with a specialism in AI and emerging technologies.
	Andrew Miles - Corporate Relations Manager, Birmingham Business School a.t.miles@bham.ac.uk Andrew leads on the delivery of Birmingham Business School's corporate strategy, as well as managing key accounts that contribute to the University of Birmingham's business engagement mandate. Andrew works closely with the different research centres at the Business School to identify the best means of creating external partnerships and matching graduate talent, research expertise, and academic consultancy to a range of businesses and not-for-profit organisations. He also manages the Business School’s Advisory

	International
	Bing Liu - Business Engagement Partner b.liu.2@bham.ac.uk Bing is Business Engagement Partner with a focus on Asia.

	Degree Apprenticeships
	Sam Hickman - Degree Apprenticeships and Continuous Improvement Manager S.J.Hickman@bham.ac.uk +44 (0)7976 230 204 Sam is responsible for the strategic development and implementation of the Degree Apprenticeship strategy at the University. Working with teams across the University and its constituent Colleges, Sam develops and supports relationship and contract management with employers involved in the provision of Degree Apprenticeships. Sam also leads on Continuous Improvement activity within the Business Engagement team.

	Marketing and Communications Team
	Helen Toft - Head of Marketing and Communications H.M.Toft@bham.ac.uk Helen focuses on the business engagements team's communications strategy.
	Digital Project Manager This role is involve developing strategies and action plans for content and digital platforms focused on business to ensure this is in line with the strategies of the team, the Colleges, and the University.
	Lauren Davies - Events Manager l.j.walsh@bham.ac.uk Lauren manages the business engagement events programme and works across digital communications projects with a focus on sponsorship and exhibitions. Lauren supports business engagement communications for the College of Medical and Dental Sciences, the College of Social Sciences and the College of Arts and Law.
	Laura Myatt - Events Manager (Laura is currently away on secondment) L.Myatt@bham.ac.uk Laura manages the business engagement events programme and works across digital communications projects with a focus on reputation development. Laura supports business engagement communications for the College of Life and Environmental Sciences.
	Ryan Storey - Digital Marketing Assistant r.storey.1@bham.ac.uk Under the direction of the Business Engagement Events Manager, Ryan is responsible for undertaking and co-ordinating marketing and communications activities for University of Birmingham’s Business Engagement Marketing and Communications team, College business engagement partners, and other associated University departments as required, as well as working closely with academic colleagues to deliver high quality marketing materials, events and other promotional activities.

	Administration Team
	Jazz Jemahl - PA to Gurmit Kler, Director of Business Engagement and Alisa Brown Director of Research & Support Services j.jemahl@bham.ac.uk
	Tracy Shepherd - Business Engagement Administrator t.shepherd@bham.ac.uk

	Contracts Team
	Suki Mpofu - Business Engagement Contracts Officer n.mpofu@bham.ac.uk