As Head of Engagement and Partnerships at Health Sciences University, Claire is the strategic lead for our engagement work, ensuring we serve as an anchor institution that supports economic growth, social wellbeing, and cultural enrichment in the communities where we operate. Claire drives and oversees the identification, development, and management of innovative engagement, and is a primary point of contact for external partners, identifying opportunities for business development, knowledge exchange, and innovation.
Claire actively seeks out and secures new partnerships with regional, national, and international stakeholders that align with and add value to HSU’s strategic goals. Claire leads in shaping our responsive academic portfolio that meets sector needs and anticipates emerging trends. Strategic leadership of the university’s apprenticeship and workforce development portfolios. As the lead for our Centre for Workforce and Systems Innovation (CWSI), Claires role includes strategic leadership of the university’s apprenticeship and workforce development portfolios. overseeing staff and directing engagement efforts that generate new initiatives.
In all aspects of her role, Claire aims to build purposeful, values-driven partnerships that enhance HSU’s impact through education, research, and innovation—ultimately supporting greater social mobility, global engagement, and inclusive economic development.
Claire has an extensive background as a nurse and nurse academic with 20+ years’ experience of working in Higher Education. Claire completed her doctorate in 2023 with a thesis entitled ‘Registered Nurses’ use of a National Early Warning Score: An interpretative hermeneutic phenomenological study’. Claire is the co-author of the eLearning for healthcare resource on the ABCDE approach to identifying patient deterioration which is widely used throughout the NHS.
As a staff governor at the university, Claire plays a strategic role in shaping the institution’s long-term vision and priorities by providing insight from the staff perspective within the broader context of institutional governance. She contributes to high-level decision-making by critically evaluating policies, proposals, and performance, ensuring they align with the university’s mission and values while reflecting the interests and expertise of academic and professional services staff. Claire acts as a conduit between staff and the governing body, helping to foster a culture of transparency, inclusivity, and accountability, while upholding her duty to act in the best interests of the university as a whole.