Lisa Rees-O'Donnell

Lisa Rees-O'Donnell started her marketing career in 1988 at Staniforth Williams Public Relations. Clients included Greenhall Whitley, Stock, Atkin and Waterman and Rick Astley. Lisa specialised in CRM marketing and product launches working with Atlantic Associates (USA), Stakis PLC (national), Rank PLC (Manchester), Stanley Leisure PLC (national) and Genting PLC (Manchester).

Following a change in career in 2010, Lisa joined OLC Europe Ltd, working in partnership with the University of East London, University Centre Colchester, University Centre Stockport and Sunderland College to develop Business programmes targeting under-represented groups. While at OLC Europe Ltd, she completed her PGDE, QTLS and SFHEA. As part of the quality assurance and improvement processes, she received high praise from both Pearson External Examiners and QAA Reviewers.

In 2014, Lisa became the Programme Lead for the HND Business and Level 7 Strategic Management and Leadership programmes. As an additional role, Lisa was appointed as a Teacher Training Assessor for Bolton and Huddersfield universities.

In 2016, she extended her management responsibility to include Education and Training and Health and Social Care programmes, becoming the Senior Academic Manager. Utilising her marketing specialism and industry experience, Lisa was actively involved with student recruitment marketing campaigns, focusing on widening participation. Always dedicated to balancing her industry experience and academic knowledge, Lisa began her Master in Education at the University of Bolton, achieving the Vice Chancellor's Award for highest academic achievement.

Lisa joined the University of Bolton in 2019 as a Lecturer in Marketing and Academic Coordinator for Recruitment and Retention. After only six months, she was promoted to Core Operation Lead for Business Undergraduate programmes.

Current research interests:
• Academic motivation of non-traditional British South Asian women studying in Higher Education
• Employment opportunities for graduate from under-represented groups
• Personal Tutor support for non-traditional students in Higher Education

Publications and Research:
Rees-O’Donnell, L. and Akhtar, I. (ed.) (2023) Proceedings of British Education Research Association. More than a Wife and Mother: The challenges of British women-graduates of South Asian origin to secure employment. Birmingham, United Kingdom, 12-14 September 2023. [Online] Available from: https://www.bera.ac.uk/conference/bera-conference-2023/programme [Accessed 21/11/2023].

Rees-O’Donnell, L.and Akhtar, I. (ed.) (2022) Proceedings of Chartered Association of Business Schools - Learning, Teaching and Student Experience Conference on More than a wife and a mother: Do British women of South Asian origin study for business and management undergraduate degree to secure employment?. Belfast, United Kingdom, 24-25 May, 2022. [Online] Available from: https://charteredabs.org/. [Accessed 24 June 2022].