Professor Helen Marshall led the University of Salford as Vice-Chancellor from April 2015 until 31 August 2023, having joined in November 2013 as Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

Under Helen’s leadership the University has re-defined its role as an innovative, forward-looking, industry-focussed institution by creating a 21st Century version of the institution’s industrial heritage. Helen’s vision for a real-world approach to learning with a flexible, industry-informed and research-based curriculum has seen the university go from strength to strength. Salford is now positioned as the University of Choice for students wanting a hands-on, work-based high-quality learning experience, as well as for industry wanting to engage in applied research and to recruit work-ready, dynamic graduates.

As the fifth fastest growing university in the UK, the largest provider of NHS staff in the North of England and with an over £1billion joint master plan with Salford City Council and English Cities Fund, with innovation, collaboration and a clear civic mission at its heart, Salford continues to drive forward its strategy at pace under Helen’s leadership.

Helen is also actively engaged in the wider higher education sector through her role as a Board Member at the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), continuing to undertake institutional reviews with the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and working with organisations such as the British Council on international academic projects.

Prior to joining the University of Salford, Helen was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Business Development) at the University of South Wales. During her tenure a new curriculum in creative industries was developed, a Centre for Financial and Professional Services established and a successful review and renewal of the law curriculum. She also led on widening participation and was Director for the Guardian award winning Universities Heads of the Valleys Institute (UHOVI) – a groundbreaking initiative backed by the Welsh Government to provide opportunities for local people and businesses to improve skills and qualifications by making learning accessible across the Valleys region.

Lynn Martin PhD, Professor of Entrepreneurship & Innovation, ESRC Fellow; Institute of Small Business & Entrepreneurship Lead Fellow; Academic Advisor, X-forces; Chair, Global Economic Oversight Committee.

Lynn Martin is an esteemed academic with a prolific career in entrepreneurship, innovation, and business growth. Currently, a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Anglia Ruskin University since 2017, she has a history of contributing to research, practical applications, and knowledge exchange across interdisciplinary fields. Her research interests align with bridging entrepreneurship with Science & Engineering and Art & Design, often facilitated by research council awards such as EPSRC, AHRC, and ESRC. She has successfully applied her expertise to support digitization and growth in various organizations, from start-ups to large enterprises. Professor Martin is a PhD from the University of Warwick. Her academic contributions include over 60 refereed journal articles, chapters, and reports, and she is a sought-after speaker at national and international events on small firms, innovation, and applied research.

Professor Martin has held significant leadership and management roles, including serving as the Associate Dean for the Business School at Manchester Metropolitan University, where she generated substantial external income and led impactful research initiatives. She has been instrumental in leading successful projects funded by prestigious organizations such as the International Olympic Committee, Amazon, and the European Commission. Notably, she was the Academic Director for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Programme, fostering the growth of numerous small businesses. In addition to her academic and research achievements, she has extensive experience in practical external engagement, strategy and management in both academic and private sectors, and small firm ownership. Her ongoing commitments include serving as a a member of the Board of Governance (BoG) of IIMT Studies and a non-executive director for multiple small firms and contributing to various academic and policy boards, emphasizing her dedication to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation globally.

Professor (Dr.) Cedric Bell has held several notable positions throughout his career. From 2007 to 2009, as Dean of Kaplan Open Learning, he was actively involved in developing fully online degree courses in partnership with the University of Essex, focusing on innovative features like no physical attendance, continuous student engagement, and up-to-date course content. He successfully built a business unit from scratch, secured institutional validation, and initiated several online degree programs. Later, from 2009 to 2011, he served as Executive Head of Portobello Law College in Dublin, addressing significant academic and managerial challenges, revalidating the college’s flagship law course, and leading a rebranding effort that merged the college with Dublin Business School.

From 2011 to 2018, Professor Bell was the Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) and Regional Vice-Chancellor (Africa) at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. He oversaw the university’s strategic development, quality assurance, and international expansion, particularly in Africa. His responsibilities included mentoring academic leaders, ensuring regulatory compliance, and expanding the university’s footprint across the continent. Additionally, he has served on various directorships, including chairing the board of ATHE and providing consultancy services to Global-ATS. Professor Bell has also contributed to the Cambridge International Group and joined the governing board of LD Training Ltd and the International Board of Trustees of Apasen, where he works on enhancing the charity’s international profile and training reach. Serving as a BoG member of IIMT Studies, Professor Bell contributes to the growth of the organisation.

Dr. Atul Pandya is a Post Graduate in Social Science from a premier institute of India and has done his doctorate in Leadership & Change Management. He possesses 35 years of corporate experience in The Leadership Role in some of the most renowned Indian Corporates and MNCS.

He has headed Human Resource, Corporate Communication, SCM , Sales and Marketing, Project and HSE Functions during hie corporate association and his major contribution is in Change management, Organization Building, Organizational Transformation, Building Managerial Competencies , Creating a Leadership Pipeline, Building a Skill Inventory to ensure Organizational Growth.

He has been with IIMT Studies since April 2016 and has been a member of Strategic Business Team, assisting The Board of Directors in Operations, Customer Support, Compliance, Strategic Business Plan and affiliation – Accreditation functions.

Manoj R. Thakkar, the Founding Director and Chairman of IIMT Studies since 2009, is a visionary leader with an extensive background in education and a strong commitment to transforming lives through knowledge. Holding a Post Graduate SMP from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and an SBS from Harvard Business School (eLearning), Mr. Thakkar has been at the forefront of IIMT Studies’ remarkable journey, steering the institution to global recognition. As the Director and the CEO of IIMT Studies Ltd in the United Kingdom since 2018, he has been instrumental in expanding the institution’s reach internationally. He has closely worked on recognitions such as ATHE, EduQual and Scottish Qualifications Authorities and has great understanding of compliance requirements. He also ensures to remain active in meeting with regulatory requirements provided by current awarding organisations.

Beyond his role at IIMT Studies, Mr. Thakkar served as the Chairman of the Institution Management Committee of the Government Industrial Training Institute, Vadagam, Gujarat, India, since 2017. His dedication to the engineering community is evident through his membership in CCESD, the Institution of Engineers, Gujarat State Centre, from 2016 to 2020.

Mr. Thakkar’s achievements extend beyond his professional roles, as he was honoured with the Hall of Fame Award by Times Ascent. His career profile highlights his commitment to education, from founding IIMT Studies at a young age to chairing a Government ITI, promoting education for all. Under his leadership, IIMT Studies has received numerous national and international awards, recognizing its excellence in education and people development. As a global visionary, Mr. Thakkar has expanded IIMT Studies’ operations into the UK and Africa, fostering strategic partnerships with organizations like the BRICS Forum and CII India. Representing the board of IIMT Studies UK, he plays a pivotal role in guiding the institution’s strategic direction, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and maintaining recognition as a leader in international education.