UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 12 JUNE 2014
Birmingham City University has appointed to a senior role a major figure in the West Midlands economy, aimed at entrenching links between the institution and leading business and political figures throughout the region.
Beverley Nielsen has been made Director of Corporate Affairs, a role in which she will draw on her 20-year experience in the region, including roles as Director of CBI West Midlands, Chief Executive of the Heart of England Tourist Board, Managing Director of Fired Earth and Fellow at Warwick Manufacturing Group.
The move will build on the swathe of existing partnerships Birmingham City University has across the region, offering practice-based learning opportunities for its students. Ms Nielsen's new role will build on strong existing links with organisations such as Jaguar Land Rover, AGA Rangemaster and the HS2 consortium.
Ms Nielsen is founder of the Birmingham Made Me Design Expo which promotes the city's innovation and design excellence. She also orchestrated Birmingham's Jobs Fair in May 2014, continuing a strong professional theme of linking students with practical work-based opportunities.
In her new role Ms Nielsen will spearhead the development of partnerships for the University across public and private sectors, as well as with political figures in the West Midlands and nationally.
Birmingham City University Vice Chancellor, Professor Cliff Allan, said: "Beverley's appointment is another sign of Birmingham City University's determination to forge ever closer links with our stakeholders and influencers in the city and region, to strengthen awareness of what the University does, the contribution we make to the economy, cultural and social sectors, and what we can offer through our students, graduates and staff.
"We need to work with our partners in business and industry to identify and develop relevant skills, to transfer knowledge and applied research and, ultimately, to drive our region's economic prosperity.
"We have just launched our vision for the University in 2020, an ambitious strategic plan based on offering transformative opportunities for our students, through offering unique practice opportunities in industry and across our University.
"The work we are doing in forging productive collaborations and driving innovation forms a critical part of transforming the economic, cultural and social life of the city and region."
Beverley was voted the Business Desk Business Masters Ambassador 2013 and serves on the Design Council Advisory Board, as well as on the Council of the RNLI, and on the Birmingham Big Art Project board.
As a County Councillor in Worcestershire she lobbied the Council and worked with outdoor education services under threat of closure to set up a not for profit enterprise, Malvern Outdoor Elements. This protected 23 jobs and the business delivered a profit in its first year of operation.
Beverley has been Director of Employer Engagement at Birmingham City University for the past three years, having worked at the University for the past six years in total.