Executive DBA Team

The Executive DBA Team are here to support you take the next step into your academic and professional career.

Contact our team to find out more details about the programme and how to start your aplication.

Dr Allan Macpherson - Director of Studies

Professor Lisa Anderson - Tutor

Dr Lisa Day - Tutor

Dr David Higgins - Tutor

Dr Ali Rostron - Tutor

Dr Leighann Spencer - Tutor

Nicole Watts - Admissions Administrator

Gareth Hughes - Registration and PGT phase


Dr Allan Macpherson

Allan Macpherson headshot

Executive DBA Director of Studies

As Director of Studies for the Executive DBA, Allan manages the strategic and operational aspects of the programme.

He is also a Senior Lecturer in Organisational Learning, with research interests in improvisation, learning from crisis and entrepreneurial learning.

Allan has extensive experience teaching in MBA and DBA programmes at the University of Liverpool. 

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Professor Lisa Anderson

Lisa Anderson headshot

Executive DBA Tutor

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Dr Lisa Day

Lisa Day headshot

Executive DBA Tutor

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Dr David Higgins

David Higgings headshot in black and white

Executive DBA Tutor

David is the Module Leader for 'Introduction to Doctoral Research'. He is responsible for ensuring materials and teaching are effectively organised and delivered in line with the approved module specification and learning outcomes.

With over over 10 years’ experience in supervising, examining and evaluating Doctoral programmes, David is also responsible for the overall quality and improvement of the module. This includes regularly reviewing the module specification to ensure it remains relevant, up to date and in line with any professional requirements.

David has a strong passion for Action Research/Learning methods, as they focus on the practical application of scholarly knowledge to enable the development of professionally focused scholar practitioners.

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Dr Ali Rostron

Ali Rostron headshot

Executive DBA Tutor

Ali is the Module Leader for the ‘Working with Literature’ module, and runs specialist workshops on academic literature and introduction to doctoral research during the programme residencies.

She is a Senior Lecturer in Management, with previous experience working for many years as a manager in local government and the third sector.

Ali has taught on DBA and MSc programmes at the University of Liverpool, and her research focuses on manager identity, development and education.

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Dr Leighann Spencer

Leighann Spencer headshot

Executive DBA Tutor

Leighann is the Module Leader for the ‘Research Method’ module, which she has carefully designed to equip you with not only an enhanced understanding of research methods, but also the practical skills you need to conduct rigorous workplace-based research.

She is a Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour, with plenty of experience delivering research methods in MSc, MRes, PhD and MBA programmes..

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Nicole Watts

Nicole Watts headshot

Executive DBA Admissions Administrator

Nicole Watts supports you with the admission process, from answering enquiry through to when you get an offer to join the programme. 

As part of the Management School's Research Team, Nicole has plenty of experience supporting international postgraduate research students. 

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Gareth Hughes

Gareth Hughes headshot

Executive DBA Administration and Student Support

Gareth deals with the EDBA programme administration during the pre-thesis stage (years 1 and 2).

This includes helping you with administrative queries, such as registration, updating your student records, results, etc. Gareth can also signpost you to relevant support teams across the Management School and the University if needed. 

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