In this podcast I speak with Vanessa Marensi and her former student Amber who recently completed a collaboration exploring strategies for supporting Autistic students at university.  

Their collaboration came about when Vanessa mentored Amber while delivering some teaching at Chester. Amber successfully presented her undergraduate research at local meetings and has since graduated with a Distinction in Pharmacology and has now begun a Master’s degree also at the University of Chester. Vanessa is now a lecturer in Pharmacology at Bangor University and an Honorary lecturer at the University of Liverpool. They worked together to identify strategies to improve the student experience and development of skills required in the workforce, bringing together educational and scientific research and Amber’s lived experience as a student with Autism.  

A note on recording this podcast: In the first part of this podcast, you will hear me as the host referring to written comments Amber has submitted rather than hearing Amber’s voice directly. We wanted to make the podcast recording process as inclusive as possible considering Amber’s autism and social anxiety. Both Amber and Vanessa were sent questions in advance of our recording, and Amber sent very good responses in preparation. On the day, Amber had the option to write comments in the chat or join in live depending on how she felt. I was very happy to see Amber choose to speak up once she felt comfortable halfway through recording. It is so important to have her thoughts and ideas included in this episode, whether written or spoken. I hope you enjoy listening to what Amber and Vanessa has shared and that it prompts you to reflect on how you can make your own teaching practice more inclusive. The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com⁠

Dr. Qian Sarah Wang is the Academy of Future Education's (AoFE) Research Director (Member of the Senior Management Team), Ph.D. supervisor, and former Program Director of the MA in Global Education at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). As a teacher-researcher, her research focuses on technology-enhanced teaching innovation, leadership education, and teacher professional development in the international context. Her research projects emphasize emotion and metacognition in teaching and learning (e.g., self-directed learning, reflective practice, emotion regulation), action learning (including work-based and work-integrated learning), and organizational learning (with interest in informal and incidental learning). 

Cheng Cui is a second-year PhD candidate at the Academy of Future Education (AoFE), Xi’an Jiaotong–Liverpool University (XJTLU). She previously completed an MA in Global Education at AoFE. Her research focuses on doctoral students’ learning experiences and the key factors that shape the doctoral journey and professional development. Before joining AoFE, she gained several years of experience in the education sector, including roles as an international school teacher and an online English instructor. 

The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com

Since starting her career as a Researcher Development Professional in 2010, Kay has developed specialisms and research interests in mentoring, research supervisor development and research community building – anything that revolves around a good quality conversation, and the making of a positive research culture. Kay has published work on Coaching and Mentoring for Academic Development, The Hidden Curriculum in Doctoral Education, the Value of the PhD, and the Part-Time Doctorate. 

Reading List

• https://drhiddencurriculum.wordpress.com/blog-2/  

• https://supervisingphds.wordpress.com/  

• Guccione, K. (2025) A whole culture approach to doctoral education. In: Creaton, J., and Gower, O. (eds.) Prioritising the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Doctoral Researchers: Promoting Healthy Research Cultures Routledge: Abingdon-on-Thames 

• Elliot, D. L. , Bengtsen, S.S.E. and Guccione, K. (Eds.) (2023) Developing Researcher Independence through the Hidden Curriculum. Palgrave Macmillan: London. 

• Guccione, K., and Stefanatos, R. (2023) A beginner’s guide to supervising a PhD researcher. The Biochemist. 45 (5): 11–15. 

• Guccione, K. and Bryan, B. (2023) Worth doing but not worth having? The influence of personal aspirations and career expectations on the value of a doctorate. Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, 14(1)  

The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com

In this podcast, Shreyashi Dasgupta shares her reflections around the challenges and benefits of doing field based research as a new mother. She draws on both her own personal experiences and what she learned from interviewing fellow researcher mothers as part of a recent scholarship project. Shreyashi Dasgupta is an urban geographer specializing in housing, infrastructure, migration and governance in the global South. She is also the Outreach lead for Geography within her Department where she hopes to make the discipline more accessible and engaging to people from a wide range of backgrounds. 

Suggested Reading: 

1. https://developmentgeographiesrg.org/care-and-the-academy-2  

1. Hope, J., Bastia, T., Cox, R., Jenkins, K., Lemanski, C., Mendo, T., Meth, P., Moeller, N., Okafor-Yarwood, I., O’Hare, P., Ray, C., & Williams, G. (2025). Don’t forget the snacks: Doing field research as a parent. In D. Hammett & N. Holmes (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Field Research (1st ed., pp. 129–138). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003404903-21 

1. Price, M. J., & Hall, A. L. (2024). Situating reproduction: How becoming mothers impacts field work and why it matters. The Professional Geographer, 76(2), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/00330124.2024.2351842 

1. Jenkins, K. (2020). Academic motherhood and fieldwork: Juggling time, emotions, and competing demands. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 45(3), 693–704. https://doi.org/10.1111/tran.12376 

The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com

This episode was hosted by the University of Liverpool’s Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic Staff Network.

The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com

Guest: Liz Dean OBE – Retired Executive Director of liverpool City Region Combined Authority.Liz is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and boasts nearly 40 years of experience in Local Government, beginning her career as a clerk at Liverpool City Council at 17 then making history as the first female Director of Merseytravel, serving for 15 years and sitting on a range of different boards. In her final five years Liz was an Executive Director of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, where she was instrumental in establishing the organization and fostering a culture that prioritized collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Liz has been awarded an OBE in the 2025 Honours list for Services to Transport.

The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com

In this podcast we discuss the experiences of writing and subsequently winning a highly prestigious and competitive Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence with key members of the successful Liverpool Online team who won in 2024. Lisa Day, Lynn Evans and Sue Bolt reflect on the process of applying for the award and the value of collaborative working. Guests:  

 Lisa Day, Lynn Evans, and Sue Bolt are part of the 15-member Liverpool Online team who recently won the coveted Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence. The award celebrated the project which unites academics, professional staff, and student representatives, behind a shared mission to extend the University of Liverpool’s global impact by delivering transformative educational experiences and outcomes for their worldwide community of online students 

The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com

In this podcast we discuss how authenticity can radically change the culture of an organisation.

Guest David Hadley CEO of NMC Healthcare

David Hadley is a prominent figure in the healthcare industry, and serves as the CEO of NMC Healthcare.

Before joining NMC Healthcare, David built a distinguished 30-year career at Mediclinic International, of which 13 years were spent as the CEO of Mediclinic Middle East. David was instrumental in leading the company's growth and expansion into the GCC region. His extensive experience and leadership skills have made him a respected authority within the healthcare sector across the region.

In addition to his role at NMC Healthcare, David also serves as a Non-Executive Director at Magrabi Hospitals Group, further demonstrating his commitment to improving healthcare standards and services.

David completed his undergraduate commerce degree in South Africa, balancing his academic pursuits with professional responsibilities. He went on to earn a Master's in Business Administration with distinction from the University of Liverpool and attended the prestigious Oxford Advanced Management and Leadership Programme in June 2022.

As a dedicated and passionate leader, David Hadley continues to make a significant impact on the healthcare sector and strives to deliver exceptional patient care and services in the region.

The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com⁠

In this podcast we discuss the concept of servant leadership and how it leads to great things in individuals and teams.

Guest Hans Brown – Executive Platform Owner, BNY Mellon and University of Liverpool Alumnus

Hans Brown has worked for BNY Mellon in Europe, APAC and North America. Hans has held several senior roles at BNY Mellon including Chief Information Officer and Head of Technology for Corporate Trust and Depository Receipts: CIO of Corporate Engineering and the Global Head of Strategic Partnership s and Innovation.  Hans grew up in Liverpool and is a proud alumnus of the University having studied Civil and Structural Engineering.

The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com

Reading List

• Simon Sinek, Start with Why

• Servant Leadership in Action by Ken Blanchard And Renee Broadwell

In this podcast myself and guest host Alison Fernandes we chat with Chiedza Ikpeh about black history month and the importance of creating space for dialogue on the subject.

Guest Chiedza Ikpeh

Guest Host:

Alison Fernandes is the Events Coordinator for the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Staff Network and a Learning & Teaching Support Officer in the School of Histories, Languages and Cultures.

Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com