I am a Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership at the University of Stirling, where I serve as Programme Director of the MSc in Educational Leadership. I also teach on the MSc in Professional Education and Leadership and the MSc in Education.
My research focuses on the pivotal role of school leaders and their professional preparation in fostering collaboration within, between, and beyond schools. Drawing on experience in Chile, the USA, Scotland, and the wider UK, I aim to catalyse transformation in educational policies, professional cultures, and practices to improve student outcomes and promote equity.
I have a strong track record in leadership research, professional learning, and collaborative approaches to school and system improvement. I supervise and mentor postgraduate students and publish on topics including leadership, professional capital, and research–practice partnerships. My doctoral research at the University of Minnesota explored the intersections of family–school relations, school choice, and inequality in Chile.
Currently, I am engaged in a tri-nation study of system leadership in collaboration with Professor Alma Harris and Professor Michelle Jones (Cardiff Metropolitan University), Dr. Fiona King, and Dr. Alan Gorman (Dublin City University). I am also involved in funded projects on youth climate action, educational equity, and the development of networked learning systems to strengthen leadership capacity in schools.
I am active in the international academic community as Co-convenor of the Crisis Response in Education Network and the Policymakers, Politicians, and Practitioners (3P) Network within the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI).
My research interests include leadership, professional learning and development, school improvement, research–practice partnerships, and educational change. I am particularly passionate about addressing the socio-cultural dimensions of inequality—such as class, gender, and race—while advancing leadership and sustainability education in complex times.
I am Co-convenor of the Crisis Response in Education Network within the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI). I also co-convene Leadership in Scottish Education (LiSEN) under the Scottish Educational Research Association (SERA) and serve on the editorial board of School Effectiveness and School Improvement.
I welcome inquiries related to leadership, professional learning and development, research-practice partnerships, school improvement, and educational change.
