M25 SpeedMeet
Welcome to M25 SpeedMeet and Spotlight. Every month we meet someone working in an M25 member institution or someone involved with an M25 Consortium Group, Network, or Committee. They tell us a little bit about themselves and how the Consortium has benefited them.
January 2026: Steve Briggs
Who are you, where are you based and what do you do?
I’m Steve Briggs, Director of Learning, Teaching, and Libraries at the University of Bedfordshire. My role includes leadership of libraries and our Academy for Learning and Teaching Excellence.
I am a Chartered Psychologist, National Teaching Fellow (2020), and Principal Fellow of Advance HE (PFHEA). I am currently EDI Officer for the Committee for the Association of National Teaching Fellows and an Assistant Editor for the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. I was previously co-chair of the Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE).
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy learning and am fortunate to have a varied role that provides plenty of opportunities for learning new things. The breadth of my role gives me the opportunity to work across multiple areas that interest me. I am grateful to be part of a brilliant team who are absolutely committed to delivering and developing the best services possible.
What motivates you in your work?
Ultimately seeing that my work has made (or believing that it will make) a positive difference to my university community. This could be for students, academics, teaching and learning professionals and/or those working in professional service roles.
I am also motivated by the possibility of sharing ideas and learning with the HE community. This could be via conferences, research papers or articles. Examples of some of my outputs are available via my profiles for Time Higher Education Campus, AdvanceHE and Wonkhe.
How has the M25 Consortium supported you in your career?
I have attended multiple M25 Consortium networking events and conferences which I have found to be incredibly valuable. These have provided some great insights into sector innovations and developments which in turn have helped me to reflect on our approaches and how we can enhance our own provision.
What would it surprise people to know about you?
I am a massive Star Wars fan and have met multiple members of the cast. Not sure I have one favourite character.
If I wasn’t working in a library I would
hopefully still be working in higher education. In the past, I have worked in student support and teaching and learning units. All my roles have provided opportunities to make a difference, albeit in different ways, which is very important to me.
What’s your role?
We’re keen to meet even more members so if you’d like to feature in an upcoming M25 SpeedMeet or Spotlight send an email to Jill Howard, m25libadmin@london.ac.uk. You can send in your replies to our questions or alternatively video your answers and we’ll show the video here.
Read more SpeedMeet interviews :
2026
January: Steve Briggs
2025
Lydia Harris, Collections Manager at King’s College London
Alison Mackenzie, Research Support Librarian, RHS Libraries
Natalie Brown, Library Customer Services Team Leader, Anglia Ruskin University
Eloise Carpenter, Collection Services Manager at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Leah Gulley, Academic Liaison Librarian, Buckinghamshire New University
Dr Janice Fernandes former Academic Support Manager, University of West London
Helen Curtis, Director of Learning Resources and University Librarian at Oxford Brookes University
Dan Herbert, Library Buildings Development Manager, Queen Mary, University of London
Polly Mortimer, Library Manager and Learning Support Lead, British Psychotherapy Foundation
Ian Clark, Academic Services Manager, University of East London
2024
Chris Foreman, Associate Director of Library Services at University of the Arts, London
Vicky Robertson, Deputy Librarian, UCL School of Pharmacy Library
Laura Scullion, Administrator (Events & Programmes), M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries
Dave Puplett, Associate Director, Libraries and Academic Enhancement, University of Greenwich
Fiona Ainsworth, Head of Library and Archives at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Dianne Shepherd, The British Museum, Senior Librarian
Jill Howard, M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries, Operations Manager
Cliff Van Dort, National Archives, Kew, Head of Library
Camilla Churchill, British Medical Association, Library and Archive Lead
Chloe Carson-Ashurst, The National Gallery, Library Assistant
2020-2023
Birgit Fraser, Anglia Ruskin University, Assistant Director – Academic and Content Services
Sarah Pipkin, UCL – Outreach and Exhibitions Coordinator, Special Collections Library
Anna Gillis, Royal Veterinary College – Research Support Librarian
Rachel Geeson, Anglia Ruskin University – Assistant Director, Customer Services
Jennifer Domingo, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine – Library Assistant
Emma Wisher, University of Essex – Assistant Director for User Engagement
Louise Ellis-Barrett, British Museum – Librarian Acquisitions and Projects
Paul Johnson, University of Surrey – Director of Library and Learning Services
Sara Burnett, Kingston University – Information Specialist
Robert Atkinson, Birkbeck, University of London – Director of Library Services
Laura MacCulloch, Royal Holloway, University of London – Curator
Rowan Williamson, UAL – Associate Director of Library Services and Support
Frances Willis, National Art Library at the V&A – Assistant Librarian
Robin Armstrong Viner, Courtauld Institute of Art – Head of Library Services
Adam Edwards, Middlesex University – Library Liaison Manager
Linda Coombs, Buckinghamshire New University – Library and Learning Resources Manager
Liz Pinel, Royal College of Nursing Library and Archive – Customer Services Manager
David Allen, Royal Society of Chemistry – Librarian
Russell Burke, LSHTM – Assistant Librarian
Verity Allison, St George’s, University of London – Journals and E-Resources Librarian