Sean joined the academy in 2007 as Deputy Chief Executive, with responsibility for policy, strategy, work across the four nations of the UK and relations with the academy’s principal funders. Prior to joining the academy, Sean was the Head of Learning and Teaching at the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Before that, he led the secretariat of the Higher Education Regional Development Association for the South-West and held a number of positions working with universities in Manchester.

His first job in Higher Education was supporting students working in partnership with staff to develop innovation in learning and teaching.