Brian chairs the Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing committee and a range of
associated activities across the University; he leads our staff LGBTQ+ network and is the
University executive lead for cultural change. In this leadership role Brian is raising the
profile of education and action for the University in relation to institutional racism,
recruitment of students and staff from a range of backgrounds and ensuring a culture of
equality.
Prior to working at the University of Cumbria, Brian held a number of senior academic
leadership positions in the UK including; Edinburgh Napier University, Robert Gordon
University Aberdeen and University of Southampton and he has been a Professor of
Nursing since 2009. Brian is both a mental health nurse and an adult nurse and has
been a registered nurse for 37 years. He holds degrees in politics, advanced practice
and education.
Brian has an extensive national and international profile and is Chair of the Council of
Deans of Health UK (www.councilofdeans.org.uk) which represents the voice of the
university sector in relation to nursing, midwifery, allied health professions education
and research, with over 100 universities as members across the UK. He has provided
evidence to the Health Select Committee and a number of other national and strategic
organisations in relation to workforce issues and solutions.
Furthermore, Brian is an adjunct Professor at the John Hopkins University School of
Nursing in Baltimore USA and is also an appointed governor at the University Hospitals
of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust in South Cumbria and Lancashire.