Naomi Sharples

Professor Naomi Sharples is the Associate Dean for Academic Development and International at the University of Salford’s School of Health & Society. With over 23 years of experience in UK Higher Education and 20 years in strategic leadership, Dr. Sharples has made significant contributions to academic leadership, inclusive education, and workforce planning and development on regional, national, and international levels.

Prof Sharples holds NMC registrations in Learning Disability Nursing, Mental Health Nursing, and as a Nurse Tutor. She has a diverse academic background with a Degree in Linguistics, an MBA, a PGCert, and is a Senior Fellow of Advanced HEI. Her clinical expertise lies in mental health nursing, particularly working with Deaf individuals through British Sign Language (BSL).

In her current role, Prof Sharples is responsible for developing home and international stakeholder relationships to support workforce development through curriculum design, student progression, exchanges, and international experiences. She is also involved in leading an Action Learning programme as part of the WHO and NHSE ‘Working 4 Health 2030’ initiative, collaborating with health workforce leaders across 15 Low to Middle Income countries.

Prof. Sharples is a governor for both the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust and Bury Further Education College. She actively participates in various Greater Manchester workforce boards, focusing on education’s role in workforce demand, supply, and development.

Her dedication to inclusive education and access to learning is evident in her teaching and leadership roles, where she emphasizes Universal Design for Learning and supports international students in adapting to different educational paradigms.