How Digital Learning can Innovate the Workplace

As we announced in July, Lifeline IT has appointed renowned digital expert Professor Karim Ouazzane to the company’s Advisory Board.

Karim worked in control engineering manufacturing before coming to higher education at the relatively late age of 38. From here he went on to become a polymath with degrees in maths, physics and mechanical engineering and he has held key leadership roles at London Metropolitan University, including Senior Professor of Computing and Knowledge Exchange and KTP (Knowledge Transfer Partnership) director. He also founded the university’s Cyber Security Research Centre and chaired the European Cyber Security Council in Brussels 2017-2026.

We talk to Karim and find out more about his experience and his new role within Lifeline IT.

How did you get involved with Lifeline IT?
Back in 2008 when I was at the London Metropolitan University, a student of mine joined Lifeline IT and through this I met Daniel and we just clicked. From this we did a lot of projects together and the focus was very much about making sure they had a commercial impact. It therefore made sense to formally join the team as an advisor.

What will be your role at Lifeline IT?
A lot of the work I’ll be doing will be around cyber security and AI – one of the key things will be working on CAF (Cyber Assessment Framework). I’ll also be introducing Lifeline IT to other partners they can work with – organisations that are doing interesting and innovative things that they can learn from.

Where does your interest in business come from?
Before I joined academia my background was always in business as I worked in control engineering within the manufacturing sector. I understand business and am comfortable in this environment, but I also understand the language of academia so I can operate in both worlds. It’s important that research being carried out in the academic world should have a business focus – what can companies learn from it, what innovation can it bring to the workplace?

What do you like about Lifeline IT?
I get on very well with Daniel and Adam and the rest of the team. Daniel and Adam give you the freedom to think. Everyone I come across within the industry – students, other organisations – they all have nothing but good to say about them.

What do you enjoy doing outside of the digital world?
I love sport – swimming, running and playing squash. It helps me relax and gives me energy at the same time. I also love football and following my team, Liverpool.