Reporting to the Vice-Chancellor, Kevin leads on all aspects of Research and Innovation, across the University. Kevin holds a range of external roles on behalf of the University. Key elements of his overall portfolio of responsibilities include:

• Formulation and delivery of institutional Research and Innovation Strategy, including Knowledge Exchange and business collaboration, including QR and HEIF
• Executive leadership of all aspects of research people and culture, including REF, Research Ethics (chair of UREIC), the Doctoral College, and Plymouth’s Strategic Research Institutes
• Chair of the University Research and Innovation Committee, the University Research Ethics Committee and the Knowledge Exchange Committee
• Chair of University Security Advisory Group, the TRAC Steering Group, the Regional Engagement Committee and the AI Steering Group
• Member of UEG Risk Review Group and IT & Digital Committee
• Chair of University of Plymouth Enterprises Ltd
• Executive lead for the University for the Marine Research Plymouth Alliance 
• UoP representative on Great South West (Board member); Plymouth Science Park (Board member); Growth Alliance Plymouth Maritime sub-Board (Member); Pulsiv (Board member)
• Leadership of specific projects of strategic importance to the University

Kevin is a member of University Senate and attends Board of Governors meetings.

Kevin is also the Chair of the UK Computing Research Committee, a Member Royal Academy of Engineering Ethics Steering Group, the BCS Academy and an Honorary Associate of the Engineering Council.

Kevin joined the University in 2014 as its Executive Dean of Science and Engineering from City,  University of London, where he was Interim Dean of Informatics in a career that has encompassed academe and industry on both sides of the Atlantic. Kevin holds a Chair in Computing Science and is the founder of the Maritime Cyber Threats Research Group. Outside the University, Kevin is a dedicated practitioner of Aikido, heading a charitable organisation teaching the art in the UK and the US.

Chair of UKCRC Executive Committee

Member of CPHC

Member of EPSRC College

Chair of University of Plymouth Sustainability Advisory Group

Chair of University of Plymouth Security Advisory Group

Member of WCIT Security Panel

Member of WCIT Education and Training Panel

Member of the Board of the Plymouth Science Park

Chair of University of Plymouth Enterprise Limited

Member of University of Plymouth Board of Govenors

Member of EC/RAEng Ethics Group

Former Roles:

Chair, Plymouth STEM Board

Fellowship Assessor for BCS
Assessor for Chartered Engineer, Chartered Scientist, Chartered Information Technology Professional

Trustee and Board Member, Engineering Council

Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists

Member of BCS Academy Board

Member of IAAC/GCHQ Academic Liaison Panel

Fellow of BCS
Fellow of the IET

Fellow of the IMarEST
Senior Member of ACM
Senior member of IEEE
Full member of IISP

Currently supervising 5 PhD students

Applied cyber-security

I've worked on trustworthiness of complex systems, in one form or another, for most of my professional career. 

Originally, formal methods and proof in the context of software development. Then many years in hardware verification, both pragmatic and theoretical, ranging from pre-tapeout verification of high volume silicon designs through to novel approaches to the formal verification of analog circuits. More recently, I've been working in the areas of cyber-security, with an interest in quantitative approaches to security and a very specific focus on security in the maritime domain. 

I've covered the spectrum from pure academic research through to pragmatic hands on industry deployment in both verification and security, and see the benefits of both academic and industrial mindsets.

In recent years, I've spent a lot of time working with extraordinary individuals and building and managing some great teams capable of amazing results. Team building, managing, mentoring and teaching with people at various levels of experience has been a very satisfying addition to the technical work and has allowed us collectively to achieve far more than any of us could have managed singularly. 

Since returning to academia, I have enjoyed teaching students at all levels, from 1st year UG through PhD, and have been very involved in shaping the teaching of Computer Science through academic leadership roles in the University, the BCS and the WCIT.

Specialties: Cyber-security, Hardware verification; Software development; Formal methods; CAD tools; Analog verification; R&D; Leadership; Management