Caroline joins Cogent from her previous position as Business Development Manager for the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University, where she was responsible for developing the strategy for business engagement within the Higher Education Sector, developing strong partnerships and delivering key routes to market for greater business and community engagement programmes.

Prior to this, Caroline was the Research Director of Lasers for Life an independent charitable organisation that focused on the development of light technologies within medicine. Crucially, this involved working in partnership with industries based within science, medicine, pharmaceuticals and engineering and with Higher Education for the delivery of training and research programmes in these fields. 

Dr Brian Murphy, Cogent Director of Research, said “We are delighted to welcome Caroline at this important juncture in high level skills development. Her experience brings a solid understanding of industrial, business and Higher Education requirements, particularly in terms of research and development. She also brings a strong understanding of training and skills development across the Higher Education framework itself.”

Caroline said: “I particularly enjoy working at the Higher Education and business interface, and feel that my knowledge and experience will enable me to make a significant contribution to Cogent.

“Developing sustainable partnerships between the industrial and academic sectors has been a key requirement during my career to date, and having the chance to use the knowledge and experience that I have gained on a UK-wide basis with new industry sectors is something that will challenge me, whilst bringing critical developments to Cogent and its partners.”

Brian added: “The benefits of Higher Education to employers in the Cogent sectors are high impact in terms of workforce development, and in turn enhance the economy dramatically, and as such Cogent will now be placing much greater emphasis on developing its higher education strategy.

“As Higher Education Development Manager, Caroline will be leading the engagement of Higher Education Institutes, Professional Bodies, the Government and Cogent industries, influencing and aiding in the interpretation of each of their needs, establishing targeted curriculum development, and initiating programmes that are aimed at workforce development within the Higher Education sector. “