I am an Associate Professor of Computer Science and the leader of the Cybersecurity Research Group at York St. John University. Before this role, I held several leadership positions, including Head of the School of Computer Science at the University of Sunderland and Associate Head of Computer and Data Science at York St John University. My academic journey has been international, with teaching and research roles in New Zealand and Nigeria at institutions such as Auckland University of Technology, NorthTech, and Bayero University, Kano.
As a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (D3), I serve as a mentor and assessor for Advance HE, supporting the professional development of academics across the UK. My research focusses on data privacy, IoT, biometric security, applied AI, and trust-based systems, with an emphasis on developing privacy-preserving models and trust mechanisms for addressing real-world cybersecurity challenges.
In addition to my teaching and research, I am actively involved in various professional activities. I serve as an editorial board member for several journals. I also contribute as an external examiner for multiple institutions and participate as an external member of academic review panels.
My research in privacy, security, and emerging technologies deeply influences my teaching as an associate professor of computer science. I deliver courses that equip students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to address today’s pressing cybersecurity challenges.
My Internet of Things (IoT) course centres on the unique security and privacy challenges associated with IoT networks. I lead students through the analysis of device vulnerabilities, secure communication protocols, and trust-based models that can enhance IoT ecosystems, a reflection of my ongoing research in this field.
In Cloud Computing Security and Compliance, I guide students through the complexities of securing cloud-based systems. We explore strategies for mitigating risks in cloud infrastructures while ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements, such as GDPR and PCI DSS, preparing students to handle security in highly dynamic environments.
In Digital Forensics, I provide students with hands-on experience in investigating cyber incidents. This course focusses on digital evidence collection, forensic analysis techniques, and ethical considerations, preparing students to handle real-world investigations in a legal and compliant manner.
My research focuses on addressing the evolving privacy, security and trust challenges within modern digital ecosystems, with particular emphasis on secure authentication systems, digital identity management, and trust-based architectures for enterprise and cloud-enabled platforms. I am particularly interested in designing scalable, privacy-preserving frameworks that support secure interactions across fintech, digital business management, cybersecurity and intelligent web platforms.
A central aspect of my work involves developing Privacy by Design frameworks that embed security, transparency and data protection principles directly into digital infrastructures from the outset. This includes research into secure authentication mechanisms, biometric-enabled access control, and resilient cybersecurity architectures for platforms such as digital invoicing systems, online publishing ecosystems, business automation tools, and cyber threat intelligence environments.
My research also extends to Edge AI and the secure deployment of intelligent vision systems within resource-constrained and distributed environments. In this area, I investigate privacy-preserving edge computing architectures, secure image processing pipelines, and resilient communication frameworks for real-time computer vision applications. A particular focus of my recent work involves enabling secure long-range image transmission without reliance on conventional internet infrastructure, supporting applications in remote monitoring, resilient communications, smart environments and low-connectivity operational settings. This research explores how intelligent vision systems can operate securely, efficiently and autonomously at the network edge while maintaining data integrity, low latency and strong privacy guarantees.
In addition, my work examines trust-based mechanisms within AI-driven and distributed digital systems, particularly in relation to explainability, transparency and user confidence in automated decision-making. I investigate how intelligent systems can enhance trust, accountability and usability while maintaining robust privacy safeguards for both users and organisations.
I also examine the cultural and societal dimensions of trust in digital technologies, including how users across different regions perceive cybersecurity, AI systems and automated platforms. Through this interdisciplinary perspective, my research aims to bridge technical innovation with human-centred considerations of trust, security and digital resilience.
As the leader of the Cybersecurity Research Group at York St John University, I spearhead research efforts focused on privacy, biometric security, IoT, and trust-based systems, guiding both academic research and real-world applications in cybersecurity.
In addition to my research leadership, I serve as the Editor of the Journal of Disability Research and the Lead Editor of the Journal of Networking and Telecommunications, where I manage the publication of innovative research in these fields. I also contribute as an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Computers and Applications, ensuring high-quality contributions to the broader computer science community.
I am an active keynote speaker, sharing my expertise on cybersecurity, privacy, and trust-based technologies at conferences and industry events. Furthermore, I serve as an external examiner and an external member of academic review panels, where I provide critical evaluations to maintain academic standards and foster excellence in teaching and research.
