Simon Hale-Ross

I am Head of Research and Associate Professor in Law at The University of Law, where I lead the University's Research and Scholarship Strategy. My role is to provide strategic leadership for research and scholarship across the institution, driving the development of an inclusive, ambitious, and impactful research culture that supports academic excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and research-informed education. I am responsible for advancing our institutional research ambitions, including preparations for a successful REF2029 submission, by strengthening research quality, capacity, impact, and visibility.

Alongside this, I lead the University's Knowledge Exchange agenda, developing strategic partnerships with industry, the legal profession, public sector organisations, and third-sector partners to maximise the societal, economic, and policy impact of our research. My focus is on embedding research and scholarship across the institution, supporting academic career development, strengthening research governance and infrastructure, and expanding opportunities for external engagement and research funding.

I have worked in higher education for over 14 years and am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). I am passionate about developing academic talent and actively mentor colleagues seeking Fellowship and Senior Fellowship recognition through Advance HE. I am also a strong advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion, particularly neurodiversity. Drawing on my own lived experience of ADHD and dyslexia, I champion inclusive leadership, equitable academic practice, and supportive working environments.

My own research focuses on terrorism, counterterrorism law, national security, surveillance, digital privacy, and the impact of legal and policy measures on civil liberties and human rights. I have particular expertise in law enforcement powers, the state's surveillance of electronic communications, serious and organised crime, and the international legal responses to terrorism.

Alongside my research, I serve as Editor (Policy and Education Developments) for The Law Teacher and act as an external peer reviewer for the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Asian Journal of International Peace and Security, and the Liverpool Law Review. I also provide specialist peer reviews for Routledge publications in the areas of terrorism, extremism, policing, surveillance, and national security.

My monograph, Digital Privacy, Terrorism and Law Enforcement: The UK's Response to Terrorist Communication (Routledge, 2018), was the first comprehensive critique of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 and its implications for privacy, surveillance, and counterterrorism law. The book received a foreword and endorsement from Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE KC and continues to contribute to academic, legal, and policy debates in this field.

Throughout my career, I have sought to combine strategic institutional leadership with an active research profile, ensuring that research, scholarship, and knowledge exchange deliver meaningful impact for students, the legal profession, policymakers, and wider society.