Professor Michele Russell

Michele is a Professor of Clinical Education and Higher Education Policy and Practice with 20+ years senior strategic leadership experience (C suite/executive level) in Higher Education, Government, public and private sector consultancy and previously in a range of clinical, education, research and leadership in the NHS. Her substantive post is now a jointly held post between University College London (UCL), Institute of Ophthalmology (IoO) and Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as Executive Director of Education in both organisations leading the education strategy to develop the vision and eye health workforce for London and cement the global positioning of the partnership as number one in the world for clinical, research and education. In addition, she is Chief Scientific Advisor at Photonic nanoDiagnostic Systems, a subsidiary of Advanced Materials Development, working on a novel diagnostic for prostate cancer and trying to raise funding for POC and to take to market to revolutionise cancer diagnostics at point of care! She has been instrumental on the Covid 19 Task Force holding Director and Chief Scientific Officer positions in DHSC and DfE. Her key achievement was the roll out of Rapid Antigen Testing (LFDs) and leading the universities programme - setting up Asymptomatic Testing Sites (ATS), writing policy, advising ministers, advising and co-ordinating COVID 19 responses across the HE sector, leading on RAg and antibody testing research, and behavioural insights with the Cabinet Office to inform policy and practice.Through her company, The Knowledge Exchange, she provides management and expert consultancy to the Education, Health, Defence sectors, now including C19 enablement advice for government (DfE, G7 and COP 26 conferences), universities and corporates. She is on the Learning and Innovation Advisory Group in the Royal Navy, Chair of the Positive Values Leadership Centre of the Institute of One World Leadership and a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Educators. She is a National Teaching Fellow, a Higher Education Academy (HEA) Collaborative Award in Teaching Excellence (CATE) finalist, a Principal Fellow of the HEA and a recipient of the King’s Teaching Fellowship. Her contribution to the sector was acknowledged by a Personal Chair in Clinical and Higher Education Policy and Practice and holds Visiting Professorships in Clinical Education at Newcastle University and New York University (NYU). She has a strong research and consultancy profile and has given academic papers and keynote lectures internationally.