Ros' Profile
Job title
Senior lecturer
Academic qualifications
PG Cert Ed., MA Hospitality Management
"As a former UCB student, my experiences here have directly led to a diverse career, from managing hotel banqueting to leading contract catering teams. I’ve been published in The Hospitality Review and presented at the Council for Hospitality Management Education Conference."
My appreciation for the hospitality industry really took root at UCB, when I was a student here many years ago. Our courses have always had a great reputation within the industry, and I landed some of my subsequent jobs as a direct result of being a student here. My professional experiences are wide-ranging; for example, I’ve worked in conference and banqueting for hotels, managed food and beverage operations, led teams and served as an area manager in contract catering. My current interests and expertise span operations management, business improvement, food and beverage management, gastronomy, and sustainability. My hands-on experiences, together with my passion and expertise, mean I’m able to connect theory with practice in a really tangible way.
At UCB, I teach across our hospitality modules, focusing on food and beverage, operations management, and business improvement. My aim is to keep things current and relevant, so I regularly invite industry specialists to give guest lectures. I also make a point of visiting students during their placement as I think it’s a really formative and confidence-building part of the course. I’m constantly inspired by how the hospitality industry evolves, and I make it a priority to introduce new concepts and ideas to keep our learning fresh and forward-thinking.
One of my proudest achievements is my Fellowship of the Institute of Hospitality and presenting at the Council for Hospitality Management Education Conference. I’ve also published work on the future of school meals in The Hospitality Review (January 2009).
My advice to future students is to soak up every experience and opportunity on offer. Attend conferences, go to career fairs, and start networking early. The hospitality industry is exciting, and the skills you’ll learn here will be widely transferable.
Outside of work, it may come as no surprise that I enjoy exploring new restaurants and learning about different dining experiences. I’m a big fan of Dermot O’Leary’s Taste of Ireland. I’m also an adventurer at heart, and I’ve climbed Ayers Rock. My favourite quote is “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”