Our People

Dr Sean Starr s.starr@wlv.ac.uk

Director of Executive Education, University Apprenticeship Lead and Co-Lead of the Management Research Centre.

Dr Sean Starr is the Academic Director of Executive Education and the Apprenticeship Lead for Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences, where he oversees multidisciplinary teams to develop and deliver Leadership, Business, and Law Apprenticeships. Dedicated to bridging academic research with real-world application, Sean also co-leads the Corporate Governance and Sustainability cluster, fostering responsible governance and impactful knowledge exchange. Driven by a passion for system leadership, Dr Starr’s teaching and research emphasize evidence-based approaches, critical success factors, and holistic strategies for transforming complex organizations. His commitment to continuous improvement underpins his work across the higher education, corporate, and public sectors.

As Apprenticeship Lead and Director of Executive Education, Dr Starr leads strategic partnerships, bespoke learning programmes, and high-level collaborations that empower professionals in both local and global contexts. He co-leads the Centre with a focus on driving innovation in governance, sustainability, and system leadership, creating measurable value for organizations and society. Dr Starr engages in collaborative research on organizational improvement, complexity within systems, and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). He regularly presents at conferences (e.g., British Academy of Management) and publishes on topics including continuous improvement, social mobility, and leadership.  Prior to academia, he served as a School Improvement Advisor for Solihull Local Authority (2003–2013), cultivating expertise in practical leadership strategies and sustainable organizational development.

Dr Starr completed his PhD from Newcastle College and an MA from University of Warwick. He also holds an MSc from Plymouth University and a bachelor’s degree from Bangor University. He is a Certified SFHEA (Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy), he completed his PGCE training at Solihull SCITT and holds an EdD University of Wolverhampton.

Sadaf Alvi Liaqat Sadaf.alvi@wlv.ac.uk
Executive Education Lead

Sadaf Alvi Liaqat has joined Wolverhampton Business school to re-launch the Executive Education portfolio, bringing together local and global industries, employers and academic expertise.

Sadaf is a senior leader with over seventeen years of experience in developing strategic academic and industry collaborations. Specialising in building international partnerships, employer engagement, and innovative curriculum design, she is dedicated to fostering growth, enhancing student success, and driving social impact across diverse communities. Throughout her career, Sadaf has worked with prominent universities including University College London (UCL) and University of Birmingham and global companies to deliver business operations, strategic initiatives, accredited courses and degree apprenticeship programmes. Known for her dynamic leadership style and commercial acumen, she has successfully launched new business schools, exceeded learner recruitment targets, developed profitable partnerships, and advised on industry-led curriculum design. She has championed gender diversity in technology and actively supported educational attainment for disadvantaged communities through corporate social responsibility projects, volunteering and scholarship initiatives.

Sadaf holds a bachelor’s degree in Computing & IT for Business from Aston University and a Master’s in Human Resource Management and Business (CIPD) from Aston University. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and has extensive experience in leading multi-functional teams, strategic planning, and project management in higher education settings.

Neelam Bhatia execed@wlv.ac.uk

Programme Administrator