our-winning-team-2023

Our Winning Team

Our team is focused on providing you with the very best teaching, support and wider student experience. We want you to have a happy and successful time at Staffordshire University London.

As well as the talented staff based at the London campus, we have an extended team of professionals from across the University. Our team provides additional advice and support - in person at London or remotely - as you’ll be part of the wider Staffordshire University family.


Academic Teams

Course Directors

Leigh Evans

Senior Lecturer

Leigh is a lecturer in 2D/3D Game Design and implementation. He has worked in the industry and in both FE and HE, and his interests include retro games, virtual reality, game engines, and applications within the theatre and performance industries.

Dr Vahid Heydari Fami Tafreshi

Course Director - Computer Science

An enthusiastic researcher & senior lecturer in Cybersecurity & Networks at Staffordshire University London (SUL). BSc & MSc Cybersecurity Subject Lead. Interests lie in the field of Internet Protocols & Architectures, Cybersecurity, & IoT Security.

Vahid's profile

Academic Team

Dr Dhuha Al-Shaikhli

Lecturer

Dhuha is a Computer Science lecturer at Staffordshire University London (SUL). Her research interest is in learning management systems and computer education.

Dr Maryam Shahpasand

Senior Lecturer

Maryam is a lecturer with over 15 years of intensive experience in cyber security teaching and research, professional training, security consultation, forensics investigation, malware analysis, penetration testing, and incident handling.

Dr Viraj Dawarka

Lecturer

Viraj is a lecturer in computer science/cyber security as well as an active researcher in cloud robotics. His main area of interest is towards the energy efficiency of cloud robotics using educational robots.

Dr Samuel Onalo

Lecturer

Sam is a lecturer in computer science/cyber security as well as an active researcher in Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies. His main area of interest is towards the enhancement of privacy and data ownership in DLTs and other IT systems.

Khalil Saadat

Lecturer

Khalil is a dedicated Computer Science Lecturer with a strong industry background as an IT consultant and network engineer. He's passionate about technology and conducting research in network systems and blockchain integration.

Dr Mahsa Zolfaghari

Lecturer

Mahsa is a lecturer in Computer Science and Cyber Security. Her research interests are Systems Design enhancements by Artificial Intelligence (AI), NET ZERO Technologies’ applications and IoT.

Oliver Rippon

Lecturer

Olly is a technical designer whose primary passion is creating unique and interesting gameplay experiences and systems. His experience in both Unreal Engine and Unity have granted him a wide range of knowledge across the area of games design.

Sam Westall

Lecturer In Games Art

Sam is a concept artist with 10+ years of experience in the games industry, working for high-profile studios like Sumo Digital, and Guerrilla Games. His expertise includes character concepts, environment art, and illustration.

James Foster

Lecturer

James is a lecturer in Esports teaching across all level 6 modules. James' research interests are within Esports events management, gaming culture, and business management.

Mark Simpson

Senior Lecturer

Mark is a 3D character animator and has been lecturing in 3D animation and game design for the past five years in Miami and London. In his spare time, he also builds water-cooled PCs and works on PC game mods.

Christopher Harding

Lecturer In Games Design

Christopher is a lecturer with an enthusiastic approach to game development and storytelling. He has previously worked at Supermassive Games and has a passion for cinematics. He specialises in design theory, cinematics, and narratology.

Student Support Team

Timi Salako

Technical Coordinator

Timi delivers specialist skills, training and support across processes linked to teaching, learning, research, innovation and enterprise in the field of digital and media technologies at Staffordshire University London.

Olasunkanmi Alofe

Technical Specialist

Matthew is a technical specialist providing comprehensive technical guidance across various computing domains. His expertise include cyber security, networking, software development among other computing areas.

Ivan Phillips

Technical Specialist - Media

Ivan is a technical specialist, as well as a freelance media content creator, telling compelling stories within games and digital worlds. Previous experiences include: runner, camera operator, marketer, and producer specialising in video game audio.

Sabrina Malik

Mental Health & Wellbeing Pracitioner

Sabrina is a therapist who works with young people and adults to help manage mental health conditions, overcome emotional challenges, and improve wellbeing. She offers services including mental health check ins, assessments, mediation, and workshops.

Omar Medina

Student Support & Information Admin

Omar is a passionate administrator who is dedicated to supporting students at the university. His primary objective is to facilitate effortless accessibility to valuable resources and expert guidance.

Yusuf Nisar

Campus Assistant (Hospitality Services)

As the supervisor and manager of Reload Café, I am responsible for the operations of the café, as well as the catering for university events. I am committed to providing excellent customer service and creating a welcoming environment for students.

Amin Ali

Campus Operations Assistant

Amin is a highly efficient campus operations assistant who ensures that administrative processes run smoothly and that facilities are safe and functional for students and staff.

Professional Services Team

Milena Rodriguez Guevara

Head Of Campus Operations - Sul

Milena is a higher education professional committed to providing an exceptional student experience. She has a proven track record of streamlining operations and service delivery to improve the educational environment for holistic development.

Sammy Engele

Head Of Recruitment & Outreach - Sul

Sammy is a passionate higher education professional with two decades of experience working across a spectrum of business support roles in HE and FE. With a constant focus on engaging students and helping them to explore the opportunities available.

Reece Hyman

Marketing And Events Officer

Reece is a marketing professional with a proven track record in driving brand success. He is committed to shaping the future of HE through innovative marketing solutions and skilled in understanding the unique challenges of the education landscape.

Bernard Chawey

Recruitment And Events Officer

Bernard is a marketing enthusiast with a keen interest in brand development, growth, and management, having a passion for connecting talented individuals with education and personal development opportunities.

Lauren Hebb

Recruitment Events Officer

Lauren is a skilled recruitment officer with a passion for student engagement. She has extensive experience working in educational and community settings and is committed to providing opportunities to young people and supporting them into HE.

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021