Dr Nicholas Silburn

Nicholas’s first degree, a BSc in Mechanical Engineering, led to a varied engineering career starting off with research into multiphase pumping and expert system development for a fluid engineering research organisation. A move to a small, specialist pump and pumping system design company introduced Nicholas to the UK water industry. Subsequently Nicholas joined Thames Water and spent a number of years working on major wastewater pumping station and treatment plant projects in and around London. Whilst at Thames Water Nicholas was also involved in a number of business-related projects ranging from a major business process reengineering project to user acceptance testing and training delivery on a range of corporate information systems. Nicholas’s last role at Thames centred on the design, development, implementation and day-to-day operation of a major electronic document and records management system for Thame’s engineering department. Whilst at Thames, Nicholas also carried out a number of engineering and information system internal and external consultancy projects.

Common themes throughout this time in business led to undertaking an MSc in project management, and eventually a PhD related to information behaviours and information management, and the move to a more academic career.

Nicholas is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and a member of the Chartered Management Institute, the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, the Energy Institute, and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, as well as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Nicholas also supervises a wide range of MBA and other masters level dissertations on topics related to business process and systems improvements, project management, digital transformation, and business continuity across a wide range of industries.

Taught Modules

Technology Advisory Practices (MM398)

This undergraduate final year optional module provides participants with a very practical introduction to technology advisory practices. Based around group working, students are introduced to the skills and competences required of a technology consultant, including problem identification and solving, research methods, and effective communications.

Programme Delivery

Nicholas is Module Convenor for:

- MM398 Technology Advisory Practices