This culture of collaboration and working across discipline has influenced Susan鈥檚 professional and academic career and continues to bring value to her research projects, students and the industry partners she works with.

Susan is currently leading the University development and delivery of degree apprenticeships in surveying, architecture, engineering and construction and is an active member of the employer lead Trailblazer consortiums bringing together the best of higher education and vocational training and working in close collaboration with the professional bodies.

Susan has over twenty years professional experience within architectural practice, working for internationally renowned Ryder Architecture and FaulknerBrown and also the multidisciplinary WSP.聽 Susan co-ordinated the implementation of Building Information Modelling (BIM) processes within Ryder Architecture from 2003 onwards and remains involved with BIM Academy, the collaborative joint venture between Ryder Architecture and University of Northumbria which continues to cement the North East of England as world leaders in BIM technologies.

Susan鈥檚 professional doctorate study is looking into establishing the business value of strategic partnerships with higher education.聽 This builds on her undergraduate research in Marketing Architectural Services.聽 She remains passionate about maximising the tri-partite聽relationship between employer, student and academia and this is reflected in her work with external business organisations and championing the value of collaborative research and achieving publication.