Our civic and public engagement team: we create opportunity

Our team

Larissa wearing a blue shirt at the University of Derby
Dr Larissa Allwork
Associate Professor in History and Impact

Dr Larissa Allwork is Researcher (Impact) in the University Research and Knowledge Exchange Office (URKEO).  She is also a Historian who investigates how public institutions and societies engage with difficult, provocative or traumatic histories.

Adam Doyle wearing a suit and smiling
Adam Doyle
Head of Business Engagement and Employability

Adam Doyle is the Head of Business Engagement and Employability. His teams focus on how the University of Derby interacts with industry. They aim to be at the cutting edge of thinking and provide relevant support to meet the specific needs of our stakeholders.

Rhiannon wearing a silver blazer, looking upwards.
Dr Rhiannon Jones (FRSA)
Associate Professor (Civic Practice)

Dr Rhiannon Jones is a  thought leader in Social and Design innovation and Associate Professor (Civic). She leads the Civic Lab Research Group and is a member of Pedagogic Innovation Enhancement and Research (PIER) team within the Provost of Learning and Teaching. She is the CEO of S.H.E.D and chair of Cumulus: International Contemporary Working Art Group.

Keith McLay
Professor Keith McLay
Provost - Learning and Teaching

Professor Keith McLay is the Provost for Learning and Teaching.

Square photo of staff member Hana York
Hana York
Civic Operations Officer

As the Civic Operations Officer in the Provost for Learning and teaching, Hana supports the university to achieve its civic goals as part of its Civic University Agreement.

Ayisha Singadia smiling

The profound economic and social change happening across the UK today makes the civic role of universities even more vital. As a team, we are committed to our work as a Civic Institution that locates people and place at the heart of all our decision making.

Ayisha Singadia
Civic Administrator

How to get involved: just ask

You can contact us for advice, or to find out more about how to get involved or to support our work. We have a wide range of local and national projects and long-standing partnerships with organisations. Together, we are committed to driving forward cultural change and committed to lifelong learning should be for everyone. We have a public engagement strategy and Civic University Agreement that underpins our commitment as a civic institution. 

We also support business development and training and offer a wide range of opportunities for placements, live projects through public engagement, knowledge exchange and delivering research with impact. 

If you would like to find out more about the University and its Civic University Agreement, please do get in touch. You can contact us at civic@derby.ac.uk and follow us on Twitter @Derby_Civic.