Ann Thanaraj

Ann is a Senior Lecturer in Law and Barrister with teaching specialisms in Property and Employment Law alongside delivering training in advocacy and negotiation skills. Ann is the law Programme leader and has won awards in teaching and leadership and is now a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She is an Associate of the Institute of Business Management and an academic member of the International Bar Association. Ann is a new member of the European Conference for Technology Enhanced Learning.

Ann has a particular interest in the area of technology enhanced learning particularly in legal education and training and more widely in its use in higher education in the UK. Ann has researched on new developments on software for professional learning and is currently working towards a PhD focusing on the use of technology in legal education, specifically, Clinical Legal Education and its implementation through the use of virtual worlds/game-based learning. She has undertaken several research projects: Evaluating the value of ePortfolios, drafting guidelines on designing an online learning environment by exploring applications of social technologies, issues around participation, interaction, collaboration, trust and engagement in community design and assessment, evaluating the use of online simulations in the context of combatting intercultural communication barriers in higher education including exploring pedagogies that support cultural diversity.

Ann is currently completing authoring a textbook on Land law and is also an external examiner for the Bar Standards Board of England and Wales.

Ann has a very keen interest in history and particularly in the design of original buildings and enjoys coffee shops, the coast and chocolates.

Steve Williams

Steve is Director of Information Systems and Services at Newcastle University. He has worked in Germany, the USA and Asia, for Mercedes-Benz, Allgeier Computer, ICI, Viasystems and The Health Clinic PLC, moving between project and line management roles in IT, planning and finance. Before joining Newcastle University in June 2008, Steve was Head of ICT for Sunderland City Council.

Steve runs all central University computing. As such, his team supports and enables teaching and learning, research and the business of the University. His particular work interests are in transforming organisations with IT, developing high-performing teams, creativity, risk, delivering benefits from technology-related projects, and providing services to complex stakeholders.

Outside work, Steve competes in triathlons and plays the drums.