Professor Carter has been Vice-Chancellor of The University of Winchester since April 2006. Her research area is Environmental Geochemistry and Health, and she recently stepped down as President of the International Society of Environmental Geochemistry and Health. Her research interests are pesticides (environmental storage, transport and health effects), trace metals and micro-anionic nutrients and she has published over one hundred papers and several books in the field.

Prior to joining Winchester, Professor Carter was Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of Glamorgan for nearly four years. She also worked as Dean of Science (1999-2002) and Professor of Environmental Geochemistry and Health at the University of Derby, and Reader in Environmental Geochemistry at the University of Reading.

Professor Carter is Chair of the Cathedrals Group of Universities, Vice-Chair of GuildHE and a Board member of Universities UK. She has particular interests in widening participation, workplace learning and in internationalisation. Other national roles include Chair of the University Vocational Awards Council and a member of the Ministerial Advisory Group on FE and Skills