Jo completed her training at Queen Elizabeth School of Nursing in 1990 and commenced her nursing career in general and liver medicine. Following a period of rotation posts within the Liver Unit, including the Liver Intensive Therapy Unit, she became a sister on the gastrointestinal (GI)/ rheumatology ward. Here she worked alongside the clinical research team to deliver novel treatments within the NHS setting. Following a reconfiguration of services, Jo chose to join the Clinical Research Facility (CRF) research team as a research sister, applying her expertise in GI and liver medicine to work on a wide range of trials.

Jo is currently Head of UHB Research and Development Operations and the Clinical Manager of the NIHR/Wellcome Trust CRF Birmingham. The CRF employs approximately 100 staff across its core adult and paediatric units and inflammation research facility (IRF). As Head of Research and Development Operations, Jo leads approximately 300 research delivery staff across UHB, supported by a team of lead research nurses who provide professional accountability across 40 research specialty teams.

She has presented both at local and international level, is a member of the UKCRF Network Strategic Management Team, and is currently the UKCRF Network Work Package Lead for Achieving Operational Excellence. This includes the UKCRFN Managers Group, which has a national profile with approximately 100 members from CRFs, Biomedical Research Units (BRUs) and Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs).

Head of Research and Innovation Operations