I am a Professor of Practice in Ageing and Vitality, and part of the Newcastle University Institute for Ageing (NUIA), Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the IMechE and Fellow of the RSA. I have been working in the field of technology related to healthy ageing for over 25 years, including as a reviewer and monitor of research for the EC, EPSRC and others including government departments. I also manage a business which although completely independent of the University, has overlapping interests in a number of areas.

My role includes the understanding and practice of the translation of innovative ideas and research from academia to the outside world - specifically around the field of healthy ageing, with a special focus on technology. Working with colleagues from the Institute I have developed a framework for understanding the role of technology and other interventions in the healthy ageing process. This framework known as Compression of Functional Decline is built on the work of Professor Carol Jagger and Dr Andrew Kingston has now been published. Also known as the 'ADL LifeCurve' this framework is being used nationally and internationally to support individuals, service designers/providers, businesses and academic researchers.