Michael Wood

Following a 20-year career in marketing and advertising across a broad scope of business sectors, channels and brands, including Adidas, Sky Sports, Nokia, Canon, Mars, HSBC and Great Run, Michael joined Northumbria University in February 2015.

He undertook the Programme Leader role for BSc Sport Management from July 2015 through to July 2021. He has since presented at conferences on his approach to this role, where he delivered an outstanding student experience (90%+ NSS 2018, 2019, 2020) and a dashboard of positive KPIs through utilising systems thinking and brand management approaches. A paper is finally in draft for publishing early 2024.

Through his industry experience, Michael manages a vast network in the sports industry, providing multiple benefits to students and the University, including the attraction of the i2i football programme.

He is soon to conclude his doctoral research (Summer 2024), is working towards a Senior Fellowship of the HEA and holds a UEFA B coaching licence.

Following almost a decade working on the restoration of Tynemouth Outdoor Pool, he founded the Future Lidos Group. Following a presentation at the Annual Lido conference in November 2020, inspired by the Lido Guide, he sought to create a supportive network of community groups seeking to restore or create lidos. The group received funding in January 2023 to undertake a project, pooling resources, to create a toolkit to support existing lidos and proposed lidos.

Michael continues to be active in the North East of England sport community; as part of the fundraising committee of Sport Newcastle (a charity which invests in local talent and community groups), and undertaking various roles with Friends of Tynemouth Outdoor Pool to restore the iconic lido on Tynemouth Longsands.