Media Centre

Our media centre is here to help provide news outlets, journalists and filmmakers with expert academics in their chosen field.

Please contact the press office for any media enquiries regarding the University of West London on

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Our expert academics

If you require expert professionals to discuss a particular subject matter or theme, please contact us.

The specialist areas our experts cover include extremism, nutritional food labelling, immigration law and racial or violent crime – please see some of our academics available for media comment and appearances below.

Professor Alberto Testa

Professor of Applied Criminology, School of Human and Social Sciences

Professor Alberto Testa is a criminologist and an internationally recognised expert in far-right extremism, terrorism and hooliganism. He is also a specialist in applied behaviour analysis, forensic interviewing and cyber intelligence analysis.

In 2021, he was elected Fellow by the Council of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland.

  • Alberto Testa

    Professor Alberto Testa

    Professor of Applied Criminology
    School of Human and Social Sciences

    Alberto Testa is a criminologist and Far-right expert; he is a certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI-CISA, USA) and a full member of the Association of British Investigators (MABI). 

    Professor Testa is also a specialist in applied behaviour analysis (deception/credibility) and cyber intelligence analysis. In all his studies, Professor Testa uses empirical evidence, so evidence is validated by direct experience from the “field”.  

    Alberto Testa is a criminologist and Far-right expert; he is a certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI-CISA, USA) and a full member of the Association of British Investigators (MABI). 

    Professor Testa is also a specialist in applied behaviour analysis (deception/credibility) and cyber intelligence analysis. In all his studies, Professor Testa uses empirical evidence, so evidence is validated by direct experience from the “field”.  

Alberto Testa talking on LBC news

Expert comment

Professor Testa can offer expert comment on: 

  • Far-right extremism, terrorism and policing

  • Far-right and organised crime

  • Racism – Antisemitism & Islamophobia

  • Far-right football hooliganism

  • Sport criminology: Organised crime and Antisemitism in football

He is a regular commentator for broadcast and print media, where he has spoken about the widespread implications of crime and security by far-right extremism and terrorism. He can speak with authority about the threat and impact of growing infiltration of police and armed forces by extremists and links to organised crime and racism.

He is a regular commentator on LBC news to discuss hooliganism and extremism in football, as well as on topical news stories and cases in the media.

  • Selected news articles and media comment

    The Taliban & Far-Right propaganda - LBC Radio News

    London Police Officer Convicted of Membership in Neo-Nazi Group – The New York Times

    Protests hijacked by groups intent on "creating chaos," says professor of criminology – LBC News

    Glasgow stabbings: Man shot dead named as Badreddin Abadlla Adam – LBC Radio show with Andrew Castle

    Burnley condemns 'White Lives Matter' banner flown over Etihad Stadium  - CNN

    Sinister Nazi group hide blades behind stickers in Scotland-wide horror hate campaign – Daily Record 

Dr Snorri Rafnsson

Associate Professor of Ageing and Dementia, Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory, School of Biomedical Sciences

Dr Rafnsson leads research into ageing and memory, particularly around dementia and dementia care. His expertise includes how psychosocial conditions shape the health of older adults and the impact of loneliness, social connections and family-caregiving alongside the development of dementia and psychological wellbeing.

He can also speak about ethnic group differences as we age and what accounts for a variety of outcomes.

  • Dr Snorri Bjorn Rafnsson has short hair, facial hair and is wearing a dark navy suit and brown tie.

    Dr Snorri Bjorn Rafnsson

    Associate Professor of Ageing and Dementia
    School of Biomedical Sciences

    Dr Snorri Bjorn Rafnsson currently serves as Associate Professor of Ageing and Dementia in the Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory in the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of West London. The goal of his research is to develop an evidence-base to inform policy and practice in supporting welfare and wellbeing in later life.  

    Dr Snorri Bjorn Rafnsson currently serves as Associate Professor of Ageing and Dementia in the Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory in the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of West London. The goal of his research is to develop an evidence-base to inform policy and practice in supporting welfare and wellbeing in later life.  

Snorri speaking at an event. He is standing by a microphone and gesturing to the crowd

Expert comment

Dr Rafnsson can offer expert comment on:

  • Ageing and memory, especially around brain health
  • Dementia and links to social relationships in older age
  • Loneliness and social isolation in old age
  • Ethnic group differences in health and wellbeing in older age
  • The impact of policy and caregiving on ageing and dementia

Dr Rafnsson has spoken in international media following release of his research into the impact of social and online connections on cognitive health and dementia – particularly on findings which showed greater interactions online could help prevent the onset of dementia.  

He can comment for broadcast and print media about the research and scientific implications of dementia and ageing, around brain health and wellbeing in older age.

  • Selected news articles and media comment

    Talking on Zoom could help older people stave off dementia, U.K. study says – CTV News

    Using Zoom could help older people avoid dementia, study reveals - The Guardian

    Talking on Zoom could help older people stave off dementia  - CNN

    Zoom calls stave off memory loss and can protect against dementia – MailOnline

Professor Emily Caston

Professor of Screen Industries, London School of Film, Media and Design

Professor Caston has spent her career working in the film and television industries in London and Los Angeles and sat as a board member for Film London.

She has created more than 100 music videos and television adverts for artists including Madonna and U2 and alongside directors Spike Jonze and Chris Cunningham. She heads UWL’s Policy and Practice Research Institute of Screen and Music, working with the APA and BFI, and directing Arts and Humanities Research Council and British Academy-funded research.

  • Emily has brown hair with a sweeping fringe and is wearing a yellow t shirt

    Professor Emily Caston

    Professor of Screen Industries
    London School of Film, Media and Design

    Emily Caston is Professor of Screen Industries at UWL. Previously a board member Film London (2008-2015), she has worked in the film and television industries since 1991.

    After graduating from Cambridge University with a double first, she began her career in Channel 4 documentaries before moving into fictional and experimental film with Derek Jarman.

    Emily Caston is Professor of Screen Industries at UWL. Previously a board member Film London (2008-2015), she has worked in the film and television industries since 1991.

    After graduating from Cambridge University with a double first, she began her career in Channel 4 documentaries before moving into fictional and experimental film with Derek Jarman.

A female lecturer giving a lecture.

Expert comment

Dr Caston can offer expert comment on:

  • Global music videos past and present 
  • British music videos contemporary & historical since 1930s 

  • British screen industries since 1970s, mapping, modelling, Gov’t policy 

  • British moving image advertising late Victorian early film to 2020s 

  • History of Soho, London, as a cultural and economic cluster 

She is available for interviews for broadcast and print media and can speak on film and screen industries as both an industry practitioner and academic.  

  • Selected news articles and media comment

    Contributor, MTV, A British Invention? BBC Radio 2   

    Principle Contributor to: 

    • Video Killed The Radio Star: 
      - Pink. MGMM Studios / Sky Arts
      - Kylie Minogue. MGMM Studios / Sky Arts
      - Annie Lennox. MGMM Studios / Sky Arts
      - Madonna. MGMM Studios / Sky Arts

    ‘The Extraordinary Success of Michael Jackson’s Thriller” TRT 

    Professor Caston has released four books:

    • British Screen Advertising: The Cinematography of Commerce 1850-2020
    • London’s Screen Industries Cluster: an History of Soho 1955-2016
    • Art, Authenticity and Authorship in Music Video: British Music Videos 1966 – 2016
    • Celluloid Saviours: Angels and Reform in Hollywood Film. 

Professor Rowan Myron

Associate Professor for Healthcare Management, College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare

Professor Myron has expertise in psychology – from behavioural to family psychology. She is also focused on health and wellbeing and has helped delivering sustained changes to NHS services, with a particular interest in the use of new technologies to engage frontline staff in learning opportunities. 

  • Associate Professor Rowan Myron

    Professor Rowan Myron

    Associate Professor for Healthcare Management
    College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare

    Dr Myron is an experienced researcher, writer, presenter and manager in the field of social science, with particular expertise in psychology, improvement science and knowledge mobilisation in healthcare. She has wide-ranging experience in leading and managing research and education programmes and research staff, and extensive specialist knowledge in change theories, improvement methodologies and implementation in healthcare.

    Dr Myron is an experienced researcher, writer, presenter and manager in the field of social science, with particular expertise in psychology, improvement science and knowledge mobilisation in healthcare. She has wide-ranging experience in leading and managing research and education programmes and research staff, and extensive specialist knowledge in change theories, improvement methodologies and implementation in healthcare.

Rowan is wearing a black suit jacket and a pearl necklace. She's giving a lecture via Zoom.

Expert comment

Professor Myron can offer expert comment on:

  • Behavioural and family psychology

  • Resilience, wellbeing and mental wellness

  • Positivity and reframing

  • Changes in the NHS and learning opportunities

She was a regular contributor to broadcast media including BBC Radio Wales during the Covid-19 lockdowns to offer analysis and advice on how different groups coped with restrictions and isolation and predicting behaviours and changes in behaviour along with changes in restrictions.

Professor Myron also offers regular advice and wellbeing blogs for media outlets and can speak about resilience and overcoming difficulties in a variety of circumstances.

Professor Graeme Atherton

Head of the Centre for Inequality and Levelling Up (CEILUP)

Professor Atherton is central to work to address the problems of inequality regarding place and background across the UK and beyond. He has worked with the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON) and now leads the new Centre for Inequality and Levelling Up (CEILUP) at the University of West London.

  • Graeme Atherton

    Professor Graeme Atherton

    Head of the Centre for Inequality and Levelling Up (CEILUP)

    Graeme studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Trinity College Oxford and has been working in the field of education research and management since 1995. After 6 years leading Aimhigher work in London, he founded AccessHE and NEON in the UK. He now leads both the Centre for Levelling Up at the University of West London and NEON. Graeme holds Visiting Professorships at Amity University, London and Sunway University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is a member of the board of the National Union of Students (NUS) and has produced over 200 conference papers, and publications.

    Graeme studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Trinity College Oxford and has been working in the field of education research and management since 1995. After 6 years leading Aimhigher work in London, he founded AccessHE and NEON in the UK. He now leads both the Centre for Levelling Up at the University of West London and NEON. Graeme holds Visiting Professorships at Amity University, London and Sunway University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is a member of the board of the National Union of Students (NUS) and has produced over 200 conference papers, and publications.

Graeme sits in a garden by a lake in front of mountains to conduct an interview with a Salzburg media centre

Expert comment

Professor Atherton can offer expert comment on:

  • Higher education and Levelling Up

  • Increasing inclusion in education

  • The impact of policy and decision-making on higher education

Professor Atherton is available for interviews for broadcast and print media. He has extensive experience speaking with journalists to share his own research findings in the media and contribute to stories around education policy and the impact of COVID-19 on learning.

Rod Jarman QPM

Lead for Police Education and Research, School of Human and Social Sciences

Rod Jarman has more than three decades of experience in the Metropolitan Police Service, serving as Deputy Assistant Commissioner. He has worked in public order, major and serious crime investigation, and led on counter terrorism, major incident and major crime enquiries.  

He oversaw delivery of all training and leading 33,000 police officers and staff during his career, and has focused considerable time on developing crime prevention initiatives – leading and specialising in areas of youth crime and diversity nationally.

  • Rod Jarman

    Roderick Jarman QPM

    Lead for Police Education and Research
    Institute for Policing Studies

    An experienced and highly achieving police professional with over 32 years’ experience in the Metropolitan Police Service achieving the rank of Deputy Assistant Commissioner. Most senior roles as deputy to the Assistant Commissioner for Frontline Policing (with over 20,000 staff responsible for all aspects of policing London) and as the Director for Leadership and Learning (leading on all aspects of training, police education and leadership development). Has held roles including Borough based Policing, Public Order, Major and Serious Crime Investigation, Diversity and Police training.

    An experienced and highly achieving police professional with over 32 years’ experience in the Metropolitan Police Service achieving the rank of Deputy Assistant Commissioner. Most senior roles as deputy to the Assistant Commissioner for Frontline Policing (with over 20,000 staff responsible for all aspects of policing London) and as the Director for Leadership and Learning (leading on all aspects of training, police education and leadership development). Has held roles including Borough based Policing, Public Order, Major and Serious Crime Investigation, Diversity and Police training.

Rod Jarman in his police uniform talking to the BBC about an investigation

Expert comment

Rod Jarman can offer expert comment on:

  • Policing policy and behaviours in the Metropolitan Police
  • Crime and diversity initiatives and their implementation
  • The impact and future of policing policy

Rod has appeared on a variety of broadcast media and offered expertise and comment for print. Most recently, he has spoken out about the need for more to be done following a report into police activity following the murder of Sarah Everard in 2021.

He also speaks regularly about police activity and behaviours following high profile media cases, and has made ongoing comments to the media following the murder of Damilola Taylor and the impact the case had on policing.

Professor William ‘Lez’ Henry

Professor of Criminology and Sociology, School of Human and Social Sciences

Prof William ‘Lez’ Henry is a renowned speaker and expert on the Black British and Caribbean experience, the Black British influence upon, and contribution to, the social, cultural and political struggles of the African Diaspora nationally and internationally.

He has featured in news programmes and documentaries, speaking at length about the "hidden" role of black people in the wider British experience of fighting racism and social injustice.

His work is based on his first-hand experience of the "Stop the Sus Law Campaign", the "Battle of Lewisham", the "New Cross Fire March" and events tackling the ongoing impact of systemic and institutionalised racism in Britain.

  • William Henry

    Professor William Henry

    Professor of Criminology and Sociology
    School of Human and Social Sciences

    I was born in the London Borough of Lewisham of Jamaican parentage, and I am a Professor of Criminology and Sociology in the School of Human and Social Sciences and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Lead for UWL.

    I am the British Reggae Deejay Lezlee Lyrix, and a writer, poet and community activist who is renown as a first-rate public speaker who has lectured both nationally and internationally and featured in numerous documentaries, current affairs television and radio programmes, for over three decades.

    I was born in the London Borough of Lewisham of Jamaican parentage, and I am a Professor of Criminology and Sociology in the School of Human and Social Sciences and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Lead for UWL.

    I am the British Reggae Deejay Lezlee Lyrix, and a writer, poet and community activist who is renown as a first-rate public speaker who has lectured both nationally and internationally and featured in numerous documentaries, current affairs television and radio programmes, for over three decades.

Professor Lez Henry delivering a presentation.

Expert comment

Professor Henry can offer expert comment on:

  • The Black British experience and racism in the UK
  • Understanding the popular cultures of the African Diaspora
  • The influence of different cultures on UK social and political struggles

Professor Henry is a speaker and community activist who has been interviewed extensively for television and radio. He speaks regularly about his own experiences and the impact of racism across London and in the context of young people.

He can also speak about race, education, ethnicity, youth crime and cultural studies – particularly in relation to the Black British experience.

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