Saqab Rasul

' I joined the University of Sheffield on 1st September as Head of Knowledge Exchange & Innovation. I joined from the University of Manchester, where I was Head of Integrated Business Engagement.

I have held 9 previous roles across 3 other institutions (not including Sheffield). Most of my career has been in the area of knowledge exchange and business engagement, however I have spent time working on government relations and in commercial services.

I graduated from the University of Manchester and spent the first 2 years of my career working for the North West Universities Association, an organisation focussed on promoting the benefits of Higher Education and the difference it can make. My role was around encouraging SMEs to collaborate with HEIs.

I then started working for UMIST for 18 months in the area of business collaborations, and changed roles as the UMIST and Victoria University of Manchester merged to form The University of Manchester. My new role was in the area of government and political relations, allowing me to bring transferable skills with a new external audience in mind.

I then developed my career through a variety of roles, mainly in the area of knowledge exchange, working in central functions and Faculty based positions. Gaining different experiences and insights. This also including a period as a project manager in commercial services, giving me a stronger understanding of University financial considerations.

I'm really happy to have joined Sheffield and would like to continue to stay on my journey here. The opportunity to lead on the new Partnerships & Knowledge Exchange Service is an amazing opportunity, and was always an aspiration of mine to lead such a function. '