Professor Joanne Atkinson

Joanne Atkinson is Faculty Pro Vice-Chancellor for the faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Northumbria University.

As Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, Joanne leads one of the University’s three faculties. In her role as a member of the University Executive, she represents the Faculty, working closely with her fellow PVCs and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor to implement and achieve the University Strategy.

The Faculty of Health and Wellbeing unites a diverse range of disciplines and expertise and comprises around 8000 students and almost 500 staff, encompassed within 4 academic schools: Healthcare and Nursing Sciences; Communities and Education; Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation; and Psychology.

Joanne works closely with the Faculty’s Executive Leadership Team to provide strategic and operational leadership, guidance and support for colleagues, developing the vision for the Faculty and its academic schools, also working with colleagues to ensure positive student outcomes and an excellent student experience across all the Faculty’s programmes. Additionally, Joanne drives culture and performance, continuing to provide effective leadership in the development and delivery of world-leading research, ensuring that the Faculty maintains its trajectory in delivering its ambitious objectives.  Joanne also works closely with colleagues developing and strengthening key partnerships with regional, national and international organisations.

With a clear focus on experiential learning and strong links with regional and national partners, the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing offers graduates the opportunity to learn and develop new skills in real and simulated situations, enabling them to demonstrate their skills, knowledge and experience to potential employers.

Led by world-leading academics, Health and Wellbeing students engage in real-world research and professional practice placements, not only contributing to the generation of impactful research outcomes, but also in identifying and driving changes to policy and practice, improving the experience of regional, national and international communities.

Faculty colleagues utilise a range of innovative approaches to learning and teaching driving widening participation, social justice and increased social mobility to improve student outcomes, helping them to achieve their ambitions and produce a knowledgeable, skilled and confident workforce, ready to take their place in the world of employment and contribute to both their community and the economy. The Faculty has a strong history of workforce development particularly in health and social care.

Joanne is a Trustee for a national cancer charity called mynewhair, which supports people with medical hair loss from cancer treatment.  Joanne has successfully led and influenced its growth from a small-scale not-for-profit organisation to an international registered charity. She is a governor of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust