I am a seasoned researcher and educator with over 20 years of experience spanning research, industry, and academia. I am a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science and Machine Learning at Sheffield Hallam University, a Senior Fellow (SFHEA), and a recognized leader in AI-driven innovation. With a PhD in Computer Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, I spearhead cutting-edge research in Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, and Computer Networking, evidenced by 60+ publications and over 2,100 citations (h-index: 21). As head of the Conversational AI Cluster and co-founder of startups like Phyllis Chatbot and cybermati, I bridge academia and industry, securing over £1M in grants from Innovate UK, EPSRC, and DSIT to deliver high-impact solutions. Passionate about shaping the future of AI, I advise leading companies, mentor at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC), and hold several professional certifications including IAISP CAISE and Huawei HCIA-AI.