I am an HCPC Registered Practitioner Forensic Psychologist. I am a chartered member of the BPS and a full member of the BPS Division of Forensic Psychology. I commenced my career as a practitioner in 2005 with Her Majesty's Prison Service. I have worked in a range of settings including a high secure prison, a high secure hospital, a female closed prison, male category B and D prisons and a medium secure unit. Prior to my appointment at Newcastle University I was employed by the NHS as principal forensic psychologist on a specialist forensic personality disorder ward. I remain actively involved in the assessment of offenders as an independent practitioner, alongside my academic responsibilities. As a practitioner, my primary areas of expertise are in the assessment of violent, sexually violent and arson offenders, in addition to personality disorder. 

My Ph.D research explored fire use from a novel interdisciplinary perspective, drawing on sociological, criminological and anthropological work, alongside psychology. I considered both firesetting and non-criminalised (i.e. law-abiding) forms of fire use, with a view to informing arson reduction and prevention strategy. I continue to conduct research in this area. I have a particular interest in cross-cultural fire use. My research has a strong applied focus and I am actively working with colleagues in the fire and rescue service to develop and evaluate youth/ community engagement initiatives. More generally, my research interests relate to the social construction of crime, crime and culture and the impact of discrimination on ex-offenders. 

I also have a keen interest in the use of reflective practice in higher education and am conducting research on this topic at Newcastle University. 

I have undergraduate and postgraduate teaching responsibilities, in addition to teaching and supervising trainees on the Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Psychology Practice. 

I am leader of two MSc Forensic Psychology modules, namely: (i) Mental Health and Crime, and (ii) Advanced Research Methods (semester two). 

I am Deputy Director of both the Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Psychology Practice and the MSc Forensic Psychology programmes.