For his inaugural lecture, Jim will reflect on a 20 plus year journey, applying psychology to improve safety and health. From a PhD with Eurostar to being shortlisted for ‘the best KTP’ award in 2025 (and ultimately being beaten by a yogurt company).

Jim will begin by sharing his journey into academia. He will talk about floundering after his first degree and how his personal experience of poor work systems guided him towards the discipline of Human Factors & Ergonomics, and the ironies he encountered while studying for his Masters degree.

Jim will then discuss how the lessons learned during his PhD research with Eurostar have been central to the success of subsequent projects. He will talk about his favourite projects, past and present, and how benefiting from Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) funding and support has supercharged the outcomes for all involved.

Jim will end the talk by reflecting on his proudest moments in academia so far – to be selected as one of ‘50 faces of KTP’ to mark the 50th anniversary of the KTP scheme, and for one of his projects to be shortlisted for ‘the best KTP’ award at the 2025 Innovate UK KTP awards.