Linda’s story is one of creativity, resilience and innovation – qualities that have allowed her to transform fashion research and education at Northumbria since joining in 2018.
Linda’s achievements include:
- Establishing and leading the pioneering BioDesign Laboratory, combining her background in fashion with newly acquired expertise in biodesign. One of only a handful of such facilities in the UK, the BioDesign Laboratory enables staff and students to experiment safely with biological organisms such as mycelium and bacterial cellulose to create sustainable new materials. Linda developed this groundbreaking space from scratch, reflecting her determination to retrain and navigate complex biosafety regulations and specialist equipment independently. It now provides a hub for collaborative research, inspiring design and student innovation.
- Contributing to high-profile projects, including the £100,000 Bio-Couture initiative, where she helped create a life-cycle assessment framework for bio-based materials.
- Driving innovative initiatives such as Northumbria’s first Digital Catwalk, which showcased sustainable digital fashion technologies whilst limiting environmental impact. Her leadership has placed Northumbria among the UK’s most visible institutions for experimental sustainable design.
- Empowering students: Linda has mentored postgraduate teams competing in the international Biodesign Challenge in New York, giving them the rare opportunity to work with living materials rather than speculative designs. This experience has been transformative for many, building skills, confidence and a passion for sustainability.
- Strong advocate for the technician community: Linda represents technical staff on university-wide committees such as the Research and Knowledge Exchange committee, ensuring their voices inform strategic decision-making. Her efforts align closely with the Technician Commitment, reinforcing the visibility and influence of technical professionals in higher education.
Describing her work, Linda emphasises the joy of discovery, the satisfaction of problem-solving and the purpose she finds in developing solutions to environmental challenges.
“Whether cultivating bacterial cellulose, designing digitally or helping students realise their ideas, I enjoy transforming concepts into tangible reality,” she explains.
Recognition has followed her achievements. Last year, Linda was shortlisted for a prestigious Papin Prize honouring innovation in UK higher education. Nevertheless, she remains modest, admitting that being shortlisted for this national award was “genuinely surprising,” since most technicians, herself included, focus on “just getting on with the work.”
Linda’s journey is an inspiring reminder of the vital role technicians play in advancing research, education and innovation.
Meet the other nominees for this year’s Outstanding Technician of the Year Award:
- Jiteen Ahmed, Aston University
- Helena Brown, University of Leeds
- Phil Chaplain, Robert Gordon University
- Dr Alex Laude, Newcastle University
- John Nicolson, University of Cambridge
- Joe Rees-Jones, University of York
- Kate Robinson, Harper Adams University
Winners will be announced on 13 November at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
