About

I am Professor of Digital Play and Learning in the School of Computer Science at Northumbria University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the North of England. I have worked here since 2023 and am proud to be part of such a progressive and inclusive institution.

My research focuses on the potential of games and playful approaches to create active and engaging learning, improve health and wellbeing, and enhance the quality of life for people beyond childhood. The main focus of my work has been Higher Education but I’m also interested in other adult learning contexts, and work with children and young people.

I’m passionate about the importance of creating spaces for adults to play and normalizing the different legitimate ways to play. I believe that play in adulthood has many benefits including supporting learning, increasing motivation, fostering a sense of community and belonging, enhancing imagination and creativity, and – importantly – providing safe spaces to learn how to fail well and recover from that failure.

If you’d like to get in touch, the easiest way is via my work email (see here) or LinkedIn.