Dr Keith Sharp, Head of UK HE International Unit

Keith Sharp is a sociologist and has worked in UK universities for more than 20 years, most recently at the University of Gloucestershire as Dean and Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor. Keith has extensive experience of international higher education, particularly in partnership development, quality assurance and the international student experience. Keith was awarded BSc in Sociology from the London School of Economics and a PhD from the University of Edinburgh. Outside work Keith is a jazz enthusiast and an occasional clarinettist.

Read Dr Sharp's profile in the the Times Higher Education

 

 

Dr William Lawton, Policy Adviser

Bill Lawton hails from St John’s, Newfoundland, and has lived and worked in the UK for two decades. He has been Policy Adviser at the International Unit since its inception in summer 2007. Prior to this, he worked at the Canadian High Commission in London, first as a political analyst on UK devolution and latterly as Head of Academic Relations. In the 1990s he was a lecturer in politics at the University of Hull in England, where his main specialisms were Canadian and American domestic politics and political economy. Bill has a BSc from Memorial University in Newfoundland and a Master in Environmental Studies from York University in Toronto. His PhD, from Edinburgh University, was an analysis and critique of economic development policies in Newfoundland. Bill’s wife, Neena, is from Haryana, near Delhi, and they have two children.

 

Elizabeth Farnell, Communications Officer

Elizabeth Farnell is Communications Officer for the UK Higher Education International Unit. Prior to this, Elizabeth worked as a Press and PR Officer for the social networking website, Friends Reunited. Her time there involved working on the PR during the company’s sale to ITV. She has also worked on a freelance basis for Legal Week magazine. Elizabeth received a BA (Hons) in Politics from the University of Nottingham and a PGDip (Print Journalism) from the University of Westminster. She is a qualified TEFL teacher and has taught English in Nicaragua and the UK.

 

Callista Punch, Manager (Europe Unit) / Policy Adviser (International Unit)

Callista Punch is Policy Adviser to the UK Higher Education International Unit and also Manager of the UK Higher Education Europe Unit. Prior to this, she was the Director of Communications and Government Relations at Universities Australia. Callista has also worked in the healthcare sector as Manager of Public Relations and Policy at the Australian Medical Association QLD. Callista received a BA in Business Communications from Queensland University of Technology and an MA in Communications from the University of Canberra, Australia.