After some 20+ years in management roles in International Healthcare and Hi-tech Industries, working across The Middle East, The Far East and Australia, John joined The University of Wales Newport to teach business and IT subjects. In 1999 he obtained an MSc in IT Management followed by an MBA in 2001. For the next 5 years he continued to conduct teaching and research for a PhD, by working onsite for 2-4 weeks at over 100 different SME's including the following sectors:
IT
Aerospace
Pharmaceutical
Biotechnology
Electronics
Clinical service
Shipping | Agriculture Law
Transport
Accounting
Construction
Utilities
Insulation | Engineering Travel
Clothing
Food
Training
Automotive
Park Homes
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In addition to this research/consultancy work he placed/supervised dozens of students' onsite at these companies, which resulted in many of them being offered full-time positions.
As a result of his research he was awarded a PhD in
"Strategy and IT in SME's" in 2006. After publishing some of this research, he was invited to present at a South East Asia Business and IT Conference in 2007, and subsequently was offered and accepted a 4 year sabbatical at The University of Melbourne (globally ranked 28th in the Times Higher Grading's 2012/13). During his time at Melbourne University he participated on The Academic Standards Committee and MBA pre - assessment panels, and was presented with The Deans Award for Teaching Excellence in both 2009 and 2011.
Since returning to the UK in 2012 he has been a working as a visiting lecturer/examiner at The University of South Wales and Cardiff Metropolitan. In addition to this he has also been working as board member for a The St David's Cancer Hospice and a member of the board of Fairwater High School.