Inaugural Lecture Series

Are you ready to embark on a journey of knowledge and inspiration? Join us for a series of captivating inaugural lectures and immerse yourself in the world of intellectual exploration and thought-provoking sessions.

Inaugural lectures are celebration of our academics’ outstanding research excellence and an achievement of contributions to their field of research. These celebratory events will enable the University to come together to give conferment to academics who have achieved the accolade of Professorship and Associate Professorship.

The back of three people's heads sat in a lecture theatre facing a guest speaker.

The series will provide an insight on perspectives and issues with topics that include women’s experience in public relations, artificial intelligence, leadership in hospitality, memory studies and health inequalities. This is your chance to ask questions and delve deeper into the topics discussed. Everyone is welcome and these lectures are free to attend.

Upcoming lectures

Wednesday 4 March 2026: Global Variations in Hospitality Careers: A Bourdieuian Perspective. 4pm with Professor Lisa Wyld Professor of Hospitality Innovation and Leadership, College of Leadership and Innovation.
Wednesday 15 April 2026: Professor Nela Milic Professor in Arts Practice, College of Creative Arts, Technology and Engineering.
Wednesday 13 May 2026: Professor Adetoro Adeyemi Adegoke, Professor of Health Inequalities, College of Health and Society.

Previous lectures

An Inaugural Lecture by Professor Qichun (Kit) Zhang Professor of Inclusive AI (College of Creative Arts, Technology and Engineering) Artificial Intelligence Evolution: from Dynamic Model to Large Language Model. February 2026. Watch the recording.
An Inaugural Professorial Lecture by Professor Sarah Williams (Vice-Chancellor's Office) The Performance and the Person: Women’s Experiences in PR Work October 2025. Watch the recording.
An Inaugural Lecture by Professor Sabuj Mallik. (School of Engineering and the Built Environment) Advancing Reliability in Electronic Packaging: Navigating the Shift from Lead to Lead-Free Soldering November 2024. Watch the recording.
An Inaugural Lecture by Professor Will Broughton (School of Health and Social Care Professions) Beyond the sirens: The unique and evolving nature of paramedicine October 2024. Watch the recording.
An Inaugural Lecture by Professor Paul Morgan. The Ordinary magic of Team Resilience – a view from inside the huddle April 2024. Watch the recording.
A Professorial Lecture by Professor David Warnock-Smith (School of Aviation and Security). An insatiable need or an insatiable desire, examining long-distance transport and the role of aviation within it in October 2023. Watch the recording.
An Inaugural Lecture by Sri-Kartini Leet (School of Art, Design and Performance). Expanding the photographic archive: Framing identity, community, and history through participatory practice on November 2023. Watch the recording.