About

I am a Lecturer in Business & Management at Derby Business School and serve as the Programme Leader for the BSc (Hons) Business & Management (Online) – both the regular and top-up programmes.

I hold a PhD in Leadership & Management from Lancaster University, UK, and an MBA from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. I am also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and a Chartered Manager, accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

At the University of Derby, I teach on the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA) programme, BSc Business & Management (Online), as well as the flagship programme of BSc. International Business & AI (co-developed with Rolls Royce).  My academic and professional interests focus on leadership, organisational behaviour, and strategic management, and I am passionate about supporting students in developing the skills and knowledge required for successful careers in business and management.

Teaching responsibilities

Professional interests

I have held Business Development roles with IBM and other international organisations, gaining valuable industry insights that enrich my academic practice. I actively contribute to committees dedicated to strengthening industry-academia partnerships and fostering collaborative opportunities. As a member of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), I also support apprentices in maximising the professional resources, development tools, and networks available through their CMI membership.

Research interests

My research sits at the intersection of management education and digital innovation, exploring how technology is transforming the way we teach, learn, and lead. I am particularly interested in how social enterprises adapt and thrive in increasingly digital environments and how targeted interventions like entrepreneurial education and training can help make entrepreneurship more inclusive and accessible. A key strand of my work focuses on socio-digital disadvantage, examining how unequal access to technology impacts learning opportunities and limits social mobility.

Membership of professional bodies

The Higher Education Academy

• Fellow (awarded 2023)
• Associate Fellow (awarded 2018)

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

• Certified Chartered Manager (since 2023)

The Carbon Literacy Project

• Certified Carbon Literate (2024)

Qualifications

Recent conferences

• Shah, U., Timsal, A., & Chughtai, H. (2025). Socio-digital disadvantage, widening participation and management education. In A. Kenworthy (Ed.), Proceedings of the 11th RMLE Unconference. https://rmle.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025-RMLE-Unconference-Proceedings.pdf
• Timsal, A., & Shah, U. (2021, December). Reinforcing socio-class based privilege amongst MBA students: a phenomenographic exploration use of digital technology in global south settings. In The 12th International Conference in Critical Management Studies

Experience in industry

• Business Development Consultant
  IBM Global Delivery Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan
  March 2011 – March 2014
  Focused on identifying strategic growth opportunities, managing client relationships, and supporting business expansion initiatives in international markets.

• IT Governance Executive
  LMKR, Islamabad, Pakistan
  October 2009 – March 2011
  Responsible for implementing IT governance frameworks, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and supporting operational efficiency across IT functions.

Additional interests and activities

I am passionate about bridging the gap between industry and academia, and I actively participate in initiatives aimed at enhancing employability and entrepreneurship among students. I have a keen interest in digital inclusion, particularly in how technology can be leveraged to support equitable access to education and professional development.

Outside of work, I enjoy mentoring early-career professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs, and I am an advocate for lifelong learning. I also take an active interest in global business trends, social innovation, and the evolving role of technology in shaping the future of work.

Recent publications

• Javed, S., Timsal, A. and Hoyle, M. 2025. Sujaan: a social enterprise of socio-economically disadvantaged women in rural Sindh, Pakistan. in: Beaumont, E. (ed.) Cases on Startups and Enterprise Cheltenham Edward Elgar Publishing.
• Timsal, A., Shah, U., & Hodgson, V. (2024). Socio-Digital Disadvantage Within Management Education: A Study of MBA Students’ Experiences of Digital Technologies. Journal of Management Education, 48(1), 52-79. https://doi.org/10.1177/10525629231208186
• Ali, H., Timsal, A., & Shahid, T. (2023). Stakeholder engagement is a way toward improvement in stakeholder performance with the mediating effect of learning technology adoption. International Journal of Social Science & Entrepreneurship, 3(1), 566-585

Courses

• Business and Management (Marketing) BSc (Hons) (online)