I received a B.Sc.(Hons) in Computer Science in 1974 from the University of Edinburgh and then studied for my PhD in Computing Science from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne which I was awarded in 1980. Between 1976 and 1980 I worked for the British Ship Research Association in a variety of capacities.

I joined the Computing Science Department at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne as a Research Associate in 1980 and whilst working as an RA I was responsible for the majority of the development of the Newcastle Connection software. I was promoted to Senior Lecturer in August 2003.