An accomplished person who holds a First Class Honours Degree in Pure Mathematics from the University of London and a PhD in Computational Group Theory from the University of Birmingham, he is also a musical genius.

In his spare time he continues to conduct Wagner operas and other large scale musical works. Between 2001 and 2004 he conducted Wagner's Ring Cycle in Edinburgh, followed by Tristan and Isolde in 2005.

He held posts in University College London, Cardiff University, the University of Sunderland and Napier University in Edinburgh before becoming Vice Chancellor of the University of East London in 2001 and moved to Anglia Ruskin University as its Vice-Chancellor in 2007.

He is the author of a large number of books and academic papers. He also writes for newspapers and magazines and on top of this he has written and presented numerous TV and radio programmes. He has been a board member of the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, the Learning and Skills Network, the Broadway Theatre and Newham College of Further Education.