.jpg)
Inaugural Lectures
New for 2024, Wrexham University is proud to present a series of exciting Inaugural Lectures. We are delighted to showcase our newly-appointed Professors, who will deliver talks about their journeys within Higher Education and beyond and how they have arrived at this point in their careers.
We’d love for you to come and celebrate our academics’ great achievements in their field of interest across teaching, learning, and research.
Inaugural Lectures are public events that are open to everyone and followed by a food and drinks reception.
Content Accordions
-
25 March, 2026 | Working with Energy: Minimising Climate Change
Professor Rob Bolam: Working with Energy: Minimising Climate Change
Professor Rob Bolam started his journey as an apprentice at British Aerospace and studied at the Northeast Wales Institute of Higher Education. He has since gained recognition from having collaborated on a wide range of international civil and military aircraft projects. In 1992, he founded Altitude Products Ltd. an aircraft equipment manufacturing and design consultancy, which he ran until 2004.
Rob transitioned to academia as a senior lecturer at Deeside College where he programme-managed Aeronautical Apprenticeships. He is an active Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and chaired the conference sub-committee for the IMechE / RAeS Combined Propulsion Committee. He has organised events and conferences at WU and established the MSc course in Uncrewed Aircraft Technology. He currently heads-up the Electrical Propulsion laboratory and successfully led the two-year FastFan research project. He enjoys sharing his industrial experiences with students and colleagues and developing innovative concepts to achieve societal benefits.
Accessibility notice: this video contains occasional screen flickering that may trigger discomfort in photosensitive viewers
-
21 Jan, 2026 | Thinking Through the Lens
Professor Karen Heald: Thinking Through the Lens
Professor Karen Heald is an Artist, Academic, and Professor in Interdisciplinary Art Practice at Wrexham University. Karen’s experimental films explore time, site, and creativity from a painterly perspective. She collaborates and disseminates research regionally, nationally and globally through residencies, exhibitions, film festivals, conferences, and publications.
At Wrexham University, Karen’s creative leadership is evidenced in steering the MA Art and Design Suite, including MA Art Interdisciplinary Practice and MA Arts in Health. Her research spans faculties and external institutions, serving as a Co-Convenor, Co-Investigator, and Advisor on large UKRI grants. These include The Centre for People’s Justice (AHRC, 2025-2030), Public Map Platform (AHRC, 2023-2025), and Ecological Citizen (EPSRC, 2022-2026). Beyond Karen’s roles at WU, previous positions included: mentoring artists for Arts Council Wales (2018-2019). Honorary Research Fellow, School of Social Sciences, Bangor University (2012–2018). Honorary Researcher/Artist, psychiatric department, Betsi Cadwalladr University Health Board (2011– 2014). Researcher in narrative/sensory intelligences/ kinesthetic learning through creative frameworks, University of Salford (2009-2012).
-
5 Nov, 2024 | Engineering inclusivity in STEAM, How?
Professor Anne Nortcliffe
Professor Anne Nortcliffe is a second-generation scientist and third-generation engineer. Anne progressed from being her father's material testing technician as a child to leading an academic aerospace engineering team to founding the School of Engineering, Technology, and Design at Canterbury Christ Church University.
Anne's strategic leadership is evident as the new Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Computing, and Engineering at Wrexham University. She brings together her professional and personal interests, opportunities, true trans-disciplinary synergies, and creativity in STEAM subjects. Under her guidance, the Faculty embraces creative pedagogy, inclusive and sustainable education, innovation, and research fostered with local industry collaborations to benefit all partners and support regional and national economic growth.
Anne is nationally recognised, having won awards for her contributions to gender diversity in construction and engineering. As an experienced national and international education technology researcher, Anne passionately develops the best engineering and computing education practices to benefit all.
About the Lecture
The lecture will provide insight into how to engineer an inclusive education that addresses and positively impacts the talent pipeline from start to finish, including graduate employment outcomes and beyond. You, the audience, will gain insight into how you can actively contribute to creating an inclusive community and consider solutions to problems that benefit society, positively impacting people, and regional and national economies.
