At the university Irene runs the leg ulcer competency module as well as an advanced leg ulcer module and a course called Tissue Viability Evidence. She teaches on a range of other modules and designs and runs many bespoke courses for health care organisations including CCGs.

Irene is also Reader in learning and teaching in healthcare practice and in 2011 was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship through a competitive process managed by the Higher Education Academy.

Irene started her nursing career in hospitals and then community with a spell in industry. Her experience led her to focus on tissue viability practice and education. She has been a member of the Leg Ulcer Forum for many years and served as Chair from 2006-2010. She is part of the education group and has been journal editor for the past 2 years. She is also trustee of a UK charity which is helping to improve the experience of patients with stomas in Romania. With this group she advises on tissue viability and has designed and run educational programmes for doctors and nurses in Romania and through exchange visits to the UK.

Irene has many publications, reviews for several journals and is on the Editorial Board for the British Journal of Nursing and Nursing Standard (Art & Science). She has a special interest in developing new writers and has supported many of her CPD students to publish their work.