Category

Co-opted Governor

Term

Jan 2026 – Jan 2030

Current membership and responsibilities

Learning and Standards Committee

Managing and Organising Committee

Link Governor for SEND, with Dr Stephanie Herriotts-Smith

Governor Experience

New Governor January 2026

Professional Experience

I am a Professor of Law and Language at the University of Birmingham, where I teach law to undergraduate and postgraduate students, but primarily carry out research in the field of law and language. I sit on various advisory boards of research institutes across Europe and the US, and provide advice, including steering advice to international organisations, courts, and NGOs. I am Irish, and have worked and studied in primary and third level education in Ireland, the UK, Belgium, France, Greece, Germany, the US, and Japan, so have a wide breadth of experience in education generally. Prior to entering academia, I worked as a lawyer-linguist for the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg. I have a particular interest in SEND, and am a member of the University of Birmingham’s Autism Research Network.

Personal Interests

I have a son at Whittington School. As a family we enjoy being outdoors, travel, and exploring new places together.