Curious about a career in academia and what it takes to become a Professor?
Professor Melanie Hayward from Bucks New University is ready to answer your career questions!
Melanie has had a varied career, from the NHS to academia. She is an Associate Professor in Education and holds several national leadership positions.
Ask about her career journey, her research interests, advice for aspiring lecturers, how to balance admin, teaching and research, and more.
Questions are open from the 17th of August at 9 am and will close on the 21st of August at 12 pm.
Meet the Host
Melanie Hayward
Melanie is a globally award-winning pracademic whose career bridges clinical excellence, academic leadership and national influence. With over two decades of frontline and leadership experience in the NHS as a Children’s Nurse, SCPHN School Nurse and Safeguarding and nearly ten years in academia, she now serves as Associate Professor in Education and leads quality assurance and enhancement in the College of Health and Society.
Melanie believes that high-quality education is the foundation of high-quality care. Her work embodies the pracademic ethos, where practice and pedagogy intersect to shape innovation, policy, professional standards and student success. She leads academic quality assurance and enhancement across health and social care programmes, with a particular focus on Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) alignment, curriculum innovation and inclusive student support. Melanie also contributes to national policy development through my role on the Council of Deans of Health Regulation Strategic Policy Group.
Alongside her university role, she holds several national leadership positions including Chair of NASNA, and England Lead for CYPNAUK. She actively engages with national professional bodies and organisations, where she contributes as a recognised voice in child health, public health and safeguarding. Melanie also co-founded Nurse Academics UK to support and connect nurse educators across the UK, fostering a national community of practice and scholarship.
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