Enhancing your application for the BAM Education Practice Award 2026

Neil Pyper joined Birmingham Business School in January 2025 as Associate Professor in Strategy and International Business. Previously, he was Head of Education and Student Experience in the Faculty of Business and Law at Birkbeck, University of London. Before joining Birkbeck in 2020, he was an associate professor at Coventry University. Prior to embarking on an academic career in 2012, he spent eleven years as a political risk consultant, specialising in Latin America. 

Neil is a specialist in strategic foresight, and has published on scenario analysis. He is co-author of a textbook called Technology Strategy, which was published by Red Globe Press in 2019. He is also a specialist in the political economy of Latin America. and co-edited the book Corporate Governing in Latin America: The Importance of Scandals to Institute Change, which was published by Palgrave in 2023. He is currently working on a textbook on decision making.

Neil leads an MBA module on international business at Birmingham Business School and teaches on several modules on the MSc International Business. He has experience of teaching a range of international business modules at multiple institutions. He also has significant experience of teaching decision making, strategy and strategic leadership at all levels.

Prof Xue Zhou is Professor of AI in Business Education and Associate Dean of Education at the University of Leicester.

A PFHEA and incoming BAM Council (MKE) member from January 2026, Xue leads institution-wide curriculum transformation, assessment innovation and staff AI literacy. Her practice focuses on implementing Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) at scale, augmented by ethical GenAI to improve engagement, attainment and assurance of learning.

She is a core team member of an Advance HE CATE award for PLTL, and her work has been recognised by sector awards including BAM Education Practice (HC), QS Reimagine (shortlist) and institutional excellence awards.