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Dr Ross Kemble

Associate Director (Head) of the Leadership and Management Academy

Email
r.kemble@uos.ac.uk
School/Directorate
School of Business, Arts, Social Sciences and Technology
Ross Kemble ORCID
View Orchid Profile

As Associate Director of the Leadership and Management Academy, offers leadership to the development of the Postgraduate and Executive Education portfolio and provide effective operational management of relevant staff. I understand the challenges and opportunities facing the subject area, both internal and external. I have the passion to move the programmes and areas managed into the next stage of growth whilst developing in line with the Academy’s strategic priorities and the University’s 2030 strategy and vision.

Ross has been with the University of Suffolk since 2020, initially serving as Programme Leader for the Suffolk Executive MBA (SEMBA), now known as the Suffolk MBA. During his time at the University, he has also held several significant leadership roles, including Programme Leader for the International Business Management (IBM) and International MBA programmes, as well as Senior Leaders Apprenticeship Programme Director.

Throughout this period, Ross has successfully undertaken a range of leadership responsibilities while leading the redesign and enhancement of several postgraduate programmes. He also spearheaded international student recruitment initiatives for the International Business Management programme, contributing to substantial growth that resulted in enrolments of almost 200 students in 2024. While this success has supported the University's growing reputation and sector recognition, including being named University of the Year and later receiving the Postgraduate University of the Year 2025 accolade, Ross has played a central role in converting this enhanced institutional profile into strong international recruitment outcomes, when leading the Leadership and Management Academy.

Prior to joining the University of Suffolk, Ross worked at Anglia Ruskin University as Researcher Development Programme Manager. In this role, he engaged with more than 800 doctoral candidates across multiple faculties, designing, developing, and facilitating a wide range of researcher development activities. His work focused on enhancing the doctoral researcher experience through the delivery of innovative cross-faculty training and professional development programmes.

Dr Kemble's PhD thesis was entitled: The Changing Nature of Work in the UK since Hassard et al (2009): 3 perspectives of employees’ perceptions of the changing nature of work in 2014? A Study of 3 Companies. Research interests include employee perceptions, the real lived experience, template analysis and the global financial crisis.

Over the past five years at the University of Suffolk, I have held a range of academic leadership roles that have enabled me to develop and demonstrate significant expertise in learning and teaching. My responsibilities span the academic management, design, and ongoing development of all postgraduate programmes within the School, including the SEMBA, International Business Management, Strategic People Management, and FinTech programmes. In this capacity, I have led curriculum redesign initiatives, aligning them with industry needs, pedagogical best practices, and student experience priorities.

I have consistently demonstrated strong capabilities in academic task and people management, leading multidisciplinary teams of academic staff across a variety of subject areas. My approach centres on ensuring high standards in teaching, learning, and assessment, while fostering a collaborative and student-focused academic culture.

Prior to joining the University of Suffolk, I spent a decade at Anglia Ruskin University. For five years, I served as the Postgraduate Research (PGR) Researcher Development Programme Manager, where I was responsible for the design and delivery of developmental training for postgraduate researchers. Before this, I held teaching roles within the Business School, progressing from Associate Lecturer to Lecturer. These experiences gave me a strong foundation in curriculum development, learner engagement, and the delivery of both taught and research-based programmes.

Throughout my career, I have remained committed to fostering inclusive, innovative, and impactful learning environments that support both student success and academic excellence.

Qualifications and Education

  • Chartered Manager, Chartered Management Institute (Mar 2025)
  • Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy – University of Suffolk (Aug 2021)
  • PGCert in Higher Education Practice – Anglia Ruskin University (2018–2019)
  • PhD in Management Science – Anglia Ruskin University (2013–2017)
  • MSc in International Management Practice – Anglia Ruskin University (2010–2012)
  • BA in Leisure Management – University of Wolverhampton (2003–2007)
  • BTEC Public Services – Duchy College (2001–2003)

 

Conference Papers and Presentations

  • Keeble–Ramsey, D. & Kemble, R. Conceptual analysis of post-global credit crunch and impact of employee engagement and communications within the UK. IFTDO, Dubai, 2014.
  • Keeble–Ramsey, D. & Kemble, R. Has uncertainty allowed HRM to a cul-de-sac? Post-2008 engagement experiences in the UK. International HRM, Krakow, 2014.
  • Keeble–Ramsey, D., Kemble, R. & Farnsworth, T. Problematizing ‘repeat studies’ in management sciences. ECRM, London, 2014.
  • Keeble–Ramsey, D., Armitage, A. & Kemble, R. Lived experiences in the UK of changes to work following the global financial crisis – Updates for Labour Process Theory? ILPC, London, 2014.
  • Kemble, R. Employee insights into perceptions of UK organisational change. UFHRD, Dublin, 2015.
  • Keeble–Ramsey, D. & Kemble, R. The Degradation of the Employment Relationship – Back to Work as the Focus of CMS. Management After Critique, 2015.
  • Keeble–Ramsey, D. & Kemble, R. Labour Process Theory: new ways of explaining power and exploitation post-GFC. ILPC, Athens, 2015.
  • Keeble–Ramsey, D. & Kemble, R. Story Completion for Qualitative Research. ECRM, Rome, 2018.
  • Reeves, L. & Kemble, R. Block and Blend and International Student Experience. UFHRD, Lisbon, 2024.

Conference Attendance

  • UKCGE Annual Conference (2018)
  • Vitae Researchers Development International Conference (2018, 2019)
  • ARICON (Conference Chair), Cambridge (2020)
  • Chartered ABS Annual Conference (2022, 2023)
  • Festival of Education, Wonkhe (2023)
  • University Forum for Human Resource Development Conference (2024)
  • University Forum for Human Resource Development Conference (2026)

Publications

  • McVicar, A., Andrew, S. & Kemble, R. (2013). Biosciences within the pre-registration curriculum: an integrative review of curriculum interventions (1990–2012). Nurse Education Today.
  • Andrew, S., McVicar, A. & Kemble, R. (2013). Biosciences within the pre-registration curriculum: a chronological review of issues and suggested directions for change. Nurse Education Today.
  • Keeble–Ramsey, D., Kemble, R. & Farnsworth, T. (2014). Problematizing ‘repeat studies’ in management sciences. ECRM Proceedings.
  • Keeble–Ramsey, D. & Kemble, R. (2015). The Degradation of the Employment Relationship – Back to Work as the Focus of CMS. Management After Critique, 19(3), 291 Proceedings.
  • Keeble–Ramsey, D. & Kemble, R. (2018). Story Completion for Qualitative Research. ECRM Proceedings.
  • Reeves, L. & Kemble, R. (2024). Block and Blend and International Student Experience. UFHRD Proceedings.

Doctoral Supervision and External Examining

Doctoral Supervision

  • Current: Co-supervising 5 PhD students and lead supervisor for 2 PhD students.
  • Research supervision interests include: employee experiences, organisational change, workplace health, and management theory application.

External Examining

  • External Examiner for 5 DBA and 4 PhD theses (awaiting on 3 more theses to review)
  • Internal PhD Examiner for 2 PhD theses
  • Coventry University (2021–2026): PgC/PgD/MA Managing and Leading People; PgC Management and Leadership
  • Chief External Examiner, Coventry University (2024–2026)
  • University of Chester (2021–2023): MBA Programmes
  • External Quality Advisor, University of Chester (2023–)
  • Lead External Examiner, Arden University (2026–)

Research Interests

  • Critical Realism
  • Qualitative Research Methodologies
  • Template Analysis
  • Lived Employee Experience
  • Chronic Conditions in the Workplace
  • Global Financial Crisis (GFC) Impact Studies

  • Member, Chartered Management Institute
  • Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • University Forum for Human Resource Development Associate