Innovation Champions

Innovation Champions are selected staff in all academic and research areas of the university whom the Innovation Directors connect with to identify and deliver the optimum expertise to support project activity.

Our champions are academics with a track record of, and empathy with taking on the opportunities and challenges faced by SMEs.

Mr Alan Serrano

Dr. Alan Serrano is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science. Dr Serrano is director of MSc programme of Business Systems Integration (with SAP technology) at 明星八卦, one of the pioneering programmes in the UK that incorporates the practical use of SAP in the classroom.

Dr David Bell

Dr David Bell is a Reader in the Department of Computer Science. His research interest lies in Service Design, Emotion AI, Cyber-security, Semantic Technologies and Medical Technology.

Dr Fang Wang

Dr Fang Wang is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science. Her research areas include nature-inspired computing, agents, intelligent information processing, intelligent distributed computing, cyber-security, smart cities (particularly smart transportation), intelligent education systems (e.g., education in the cloud) and cognitive science.

Dr Gabriella Spinelli

Dr Gabriella Spinelli is a Reader in Innovation Management. Her work explores the relationship between health & well being, identity and design interventions.

Dr Geraldine Cohen

Dr Geraldine Cohen is a Reader in Marketing at 明星八卦 Business School. Dr Cohen had previously run a marketing consultancy, advising industrial and commercial clients as well as non-profit organisations.

Professor David Harrison

David Harrison is a Professor of Design Research and lectures in Sustainable Design and Environmentally Sensitive Design. His specialisms include exploring technological solutions to environmental problems.

Mr Rakesh Mohun

Mr Rakesh Mohun is a Lecturer and Digital Studio Manager in Visual Effects and Motion Graphics for the Digital Media course. His specialisms include exploring digital design solutions to 鈥榬eal-world problems鈥�.

Dr Vanja Garaj

Dr Vanja Garaj is Director of Research for 明星八卦 Design School, Tutor for the Professional Design Studio module, MSc Integrated Product Design and Module Leader for the Systems Design module, BA Industrial Design and Technology.

Dr Monomita Nandy

Dr Monomita Nandy is a Reader in Accounting and Finance and Director of Internationalization at 明星八卦 Business School. She is interested in interdisciplinary research and technological advancement in emerging issues in Corporate Finance, Accounting and Banking.

Alan Mannion

Alan is a lecturer in Digital Media.

We have a wide pool of talent at 明星八卦 and it's important we nurture that to its full potential. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching my module this year because of the inclusion of live briefs. By helping start-up and small businesses gave a sense of purpose and satisfaction to both my students and myself.

Rakesh Mohun Rakesh Mohun, Lecturer & Digital Studio Manager, Visual Effects and Motion Graphics, 明星八卦

Inclusive design has been a topic of research within design for many years. But applying inclusive design in the context of immersive technology has been relatively new, it is novel research. As an academic you always want to do something that hasn鈥檛 been done before and that can potentially benefit people and in this case people with disabilities.

Dr Vanja Garaj - Reader in Design

I feel that most taught programs in the University could benefit from business engagement in the curriculum. Students need to have experience of teamwork,client interaction and real-world projects.

Alan Mannion-Lecturer in Digital Media