Steering Group

Steering Group Member
Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education 

Dr Alicja Syska is Editor-In-Chief at the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, which she has led since 2019. She is a Lecturer in Humanities and Education at the University of Plymouth where she previously also held a decade-long post in Learning Development. She has a Ph.D. in American Studies from Saint Louis University, USA, is a Principal Fellow of Advance HE (PFHEA) and an ALDinHE Senior Fellow, and she co-hosts the Learning Development Project podcast. Her interests include writing, community building, Third Space identity, and researcher development.

Steering Group Member 

Chair of the Continuing Professional Development Working Group

Chair of the Continuing Professional Development Community of Practice

I am a Learning Development Tutor at the University of Northampton, having joined in 2018. Prior to this I taught in primary education for over a decade, and before that, worked in the arts. My background connects with my ongoing interest in creative and active learning. My current research interests centre on the use of metaphor in learning and teaching, and on active learning within Learning Development. I joined the Steering Group in 2024, and am the Deputy Chair of the ALDinHE Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Working Group and the Lead for the CPD Community of Practice. I am a Fellow of Advance HE, and a Certified Practitioner in Learning Development (CeP).

Steering Group Member
ALDinHE Treasurer

Dr Ciarán O’Neill is based in Queen’s University Belfast. He has worked in Learning Development for 10 years; initially as a Learning Development Tutor, and more recently, as Manager of the Learning Development Service (LDS) at the University.

Alongside the everyday management of the LDS team, Ciarán is responsible for the strategic development of the service and leads on a range of projects. Currently, these include the School Engagement Programme, Transition Skills for University, and a number of student engagement projects which support healthy learning at Queen’s.

Steering Group Member

Chair of the Professional Recognition Working Group 

Member of the EDI and CPD Working Groups

Heather manages the University of Surrey’s Academic Skills & Development team comprising Learning Development Advisers and Learning Development Librarians. A key research area is inclusive and holistic learning development encompassing cognitive, affective and emotional aspects of a learner’s journey.

This informed her contributions to developing an institutional approach to ‘Resourcefulness and Resilience’ (one of five key ‘pillars’ of Surrey’s Curriculum Framework) and the development of team projects exploring learner support for ‘study wellbeing’ and transitions, as well as contributions to student guidance for the effective use of Artificial Intelligence.

Deputy Chair of ALDinHE

Steering Group Member

Chair of the Research and Scholarship Development Group

Ian is a Teaching Fellow in Learning Development at University of Portsmouth. He has been active in ALDinHE since 2015 and is currently on the Steering Group and chairs the Research and Scholarship Development Working Group. Ian set up ALDinHE’s research community of practice in 2020 to provide informal peer support, critical friendship etc for research-active learning developers. In 2023, Ian completed his professional doctorate on the framing and value of Learning Development work and has published on these topics since. Ian also has scholarship interests in the shape of embedded Learning Development work and the impact of playful learning on student engagement. He achieved Senior Fellowship of ALDinHE in December 2025.

Steering Group Member

Chair of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group

Dr Kiu Sum is a Lecturer in Dietetics and Human Nutrition and the Course Leader for MSc Human Nutrition at London Metropolitan University. Her research focuses on healthcare professionals’ diets and nutritional behaviour in shift work. Kiu is also interested in pedagogy research in higher education, focusing on student engagement and partnerships. At ALDinHE, she is a member of the Steering Group, leads the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Working Group and is also part of the Research Community of Practice. Kiu also previously contributed to the RAISE Network as a Student Officer. She also co-convenes RAISE Network’s Engagement Assessment and the Early Career Researchers Special Interest Groups and sits on the Editorial Board for the Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal. Kiu hosts The Education Burrito Podcast (@EdBurritoPod).

Steering Group Member

Events Group Chair 

Steering Group Member without Portfolio

JLDHE Assistant Editor and Member of the Events Working Group

Laura Dyer is a lecturer in English for Academic Purposes at the University of Leeds. She holds a Master’s in TESOL and FHEA. She is currently writing her monograph A Humanistic Approach to English for Academic Purposes Pedagogy: People, Place, Compassion, Power to be published by Palgrave MacMillan. Her research interests focus on philosophical approaches to pedagogy, pedagogical innovations, inclusivity and integrating GenAI into pedagogy and assessment. She has extensive experience of working with students from a wide variety of disciplines, particularly STEM.

Steering Group Member

Chair of the Advocacy Working Group 

JLDHE Section Editor

Member of the LearnHigher working group

Lee works as a Lecturer in Education Studies and MA Programme Director for the School of Education at the University of Hull. He has ten years of experience working as a Learning Developer for the University Library and is an ALDinHE Certified Leading Practitioner (CeLP). Lee is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Certified Member of ALT, an NVivo Certified Expert, a Microsoft Certified Educator and a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert. Lee has an EdD in Education, a PG Cert in eLearning, a PG Cert in Academic Practice and a BA (Hons) in Geography. His research interests focus on the intersections between education and geography, inclusive of physical and digital spaces. His specific interests include learning spaces and communities, inclusive digital practice, SENDI education, higher education, research methodologies and geographies of place. Lee joined the LHWG and JLDHE Editorial Board in 2022, and helped form the Advocacy Working Group in 2026.

Steering Group Member without Portfolio

Conference Committee – Deputy Chair 

Liv is the Academic Skills Team Manager at Newcastle University where she leads the Academic Skills team delivering a wide range of provision across all faculties. She also leads on resource development and oversees the Academic Skills Kit, the repository for all academic and information skills resources at Newcastle University. She is passionate about supporting students throughout the student journey and working with students as partners in creating resources. She has led on several projects including Bridging the Gap, short-listed for a THE award. She holds a Senior Fellowship from Advance HE and has been a committee member since 2024.

ALDinHE Chair

Steering Group Member

Maddy has been a steering group member since 2020. She has coordinated the ALDinHE regional events since 2017 – 2023. Maddy has worked in higher education for over eighteen years, predominantly in teaching, widening participation and learning development roles. She moved to take up her current position as Head of Learning Development at the University of Leeds in February 2018. Her particular interests are the pedagogy of academic literacies, particularly academic writing, and the coordination and collaboration opportunities for student support services in large institutions.

Steering Group Member
Conference Committee Chair

Raghda is a Senior Manager in Academic Programmes and Projects Delivery at the University of Glasgow, with extensive expertise in Education Technology and strategic programme leadership across diverse sectors. She drives transformative initiatives that integrate cutting-edge technology to enhance research, teaching, learning, and community engagement. Her work spans academia, technology, and organisational development, reflecting a deep commitment to innovation and impact. With a strong background in higher education, Raghda has taught and directed academic programmes while championing academic digital autonomy and addressing the sociopolitical implications of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Raghda’s experiences include leading complex programmes, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and delivering measurable outcomes. An active contributor to her field, she chairs committees, speaks at conferences, and holds a Senior Fellowship with Advance HE. She is also a member of renowned professional organisations, including the Project Management Institute (PMI), Society for Learning Analytics Research (SoLAR), ACM-Women, British Computer Society (BCS), and IEEE.

Steering Group Member without Portfolio

Deputy Chair of the Events Working Group

Sandie joined the Events Working Group in 2020, after working with Maddy as part of the original ALDinHE regional events group. Sandie has worked in university library and student support services for 8 years and is the Academic Skills Manager at the University of Cumbria overseeing library, academic and digital skills for students. Working in a university with a portfolio of mostly professional courses, Sandie is interested in supporting students to develop and celebrate their academic voice as part of their identity as critically reflective practitioners. She is an Advance HE Fellow and a qualified teacher.

Steering Group Member
Chair of the Communities Working Group

Sandra Sinfield SFHEA and CeLP, is Senior Lecturer and University Teaching Fellow in the Centre for Professional and Educational Development at London Metropolitan University, a co-author of Teaching, Learning and Study Skills: a guide for tutors and Essential Study Skills: the complete guide to success at university (5th Edition), and one of the co-founders of the Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDHE). Sandra has worked as a laboratory technician, a freelance copywriter, and an Executive Editor (Medicine Digest, circulation 80,000 doctors). With Tom Burns, she has developed theatre and film in unusual places – their Take Control video won the IVCA gold award for education – and is interested in creativity as emancipatory practice in Higher Education.

Steering Group Member without Portfolio

Sharon Perera, SFHEA is Head of Academic and Digital Skills at the University of Greenwich, where she leads strategic initiatives to enhance student success through inclusive education and digital innovation. With nearly 20 years in higher education, she has driven institution-wide change in curriculum design, digital engagement, and student support.

Sharon’s work has been recognised nationally and internationally, including CATE in 2023 and the Tracy Bretag Award in 2024 for the pursuit of academic integrity. She recently led the development of the university’s AI Policy for students and a Digital Skills Portfolio to support employability and digital citizenship.

Steering Group Member
ALDinHE Secretary

Sheryl has been a member the Steering Group since May 2020. She is Head of Learning Development at the University of Northampton which was awarded a CATE in 2025. She is an Advance HE Senior Fellow, a Senior Fellow in Learning Development and Qualified Teacher. Her background teaching Sport Science in Further and Higher Education institutions has offered a plethora of experience actively engaging learners. Her research interests include asynchronous resources and inclusive teaching.

Steering Group Member without Portfolio

Deputy Chair of the Research and Scholarship Development Working Group

Dr Silvina Bishopp-Martin has been a Learning Developer at Canterbury Christ Church University since 2012. During her time at CCCU she has worked on the development of online learning materials, peer-mentoring schemes and embedding academic literacies in academic courses. She has an MA in TESOL (EAP), a PhD in Applied Linguistics, and is an ALDinHE Senior Fellow and an Advanced HE Fellow. She has been a member of ALDinHE Research, Scholarship and Development Working Group since 2016.

Steering Group Member

Chair of the LearnHigher Working Group

Dr Sumeetra is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Surrey. She joined LHWG in 2022. Her research interests lie within equality, diversity and inclusion in Tourism and Hospitality organisations and education, with a particular focus on gender and ethnicity influences. She is passionate about tackling the challenges and barriers (visible and invisible) towards achieving inclusion in education and currently involved in research and teaching projects to address the challenges of race, gender, neurodiversity, wellbeing, cultural diversity, sexuality and religious beliefs, to create inclusive education and organisational practices. She has led projects on inclusive education with educational institutions and partnered with social enterprises towards creating equitable work opportunities for women entrepreneurs and business leaders. She sits on the University’s Race Equality (RE) Steering Committee, is a consultant for Religious Literacy Partnership and contributes to BBC Surrey/Sussex on diversity in hospitality education.