Mary joined Birmingham City University, which has extensive provision supporting the creative industries, in 2006. She had previously held roles as Dean of the Faculty of Business, Computing and Law at the University of Derby and as Head of Postgraduate and Professional Programmes at Nottingham Business School. She has worked extensively with SMEs and on work-based learning, and has also worked in further education, industry and the NHS.

Mary is leading the University’s co-sponsorship, with the Ormiston Trust, of a new 14-19 Academy specialising in digital media and performing & creative arts – BOA (Birmingham Ormiston Academy). The Academy will open in 2011 and is being developed with support from the BRIT School and local creative industries partners including Maverick TV. BOA is unique in that it will recruit from across the region and has approval to be wholly selective on the basis of aptitude. It will work closely with the creative industries in the region to help nurture the talent and develop the skills of future employees and entrepreneurs.