Prof. Nigel L Williams

Academic Qualification

PhD: Engineering, University of Cambridge (2010)

Project Management Professional: Project Management Institute (2005)

MA: Marketing, University of the West Indies (2004)

BA (Hons): Mechanical Engineering, University of the West Indies (1996)

nigel.williams@port.ac.uk
Research Profile
LinkedIn
Professional Summary

Professor Nigel L. Williams is the Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and the Associate Dean for Research and Innovation at the Faculty of Business and Law, University of Portsmouth. In this capacity, he leads the strategic roadmap for University-wide industry engagement, research-informed education, and return on research investment. His leadership integrates innovation, enterprise, and research to enhance academic performance and institutional reputation. Professor Williams has a distinguished record of fostering a vibrant research culture, delivering impactful research projects, and contributing extensively to knowledge exchange within professional communities dedicated to Project and Systems Management.

Work History

Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (Apr 2025 – Present)

University of Portsmouth – Portsmouth, UK

  • Leads the University’s strategic plan for Research, Innovation, and Enterprise.
  • Manages external research and innovation portfolios and supervises 11 staff members across key functional areas.
  • Develops frameworks for Professor in Practice roles and Research Informed Education.
  • Enhances return on research investment and sector-wide partnership structures.

Interim Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation (Dec 2024 – Apr 2025)

University of Portsmouth – Portsmouth, UK

  • Oversaw strategic development of interdisciplinary research themes and funding portfolios.
  • Improved grant management systems and evaluation frameworks for senior research staff.
  • Delivered the Connected Community Fund project supporting regional startup development.

Associate Dean for Research and Innovation (Apr 2023 – Present)

University of Portsmouth – Portsmouth, UK

  • Develops Faculty research and knowledge exchange strategies addressing societal challenges.
  • Manages funding portfolios and research impact initiatives.
  • Mentors academic leaders and promotes inclusivity within research leadership.
  • Secured major funding for the cross-disciplinary Revolution Plastics Institute.

Associate Head for Research and Innovation (Sep 2019 – Mar 2023)

University of Portsmouth – Portsmouth, UK

  • Led research, innovation, and knowledge exchange within the School of Organizations, Systems and People.
  • Developed early and mid-career researcher programs and interdisciplinary research institutes.
  • Expanded research income and fostered inclusion through the Hidden Assets initiative.

Senior Lecturer (Project Management) (Jan 2013 – Aug 2019)

Bournemouth University – Bournemouth, England

  • Led Project and Events Management programs and research activities.
  • Founded the Responsible Project Management (RPM) initiative, promoting sustainability.
  • Supervised PhD students and enhanced cross-faculty accreditation and education quality.

Senior Lecturer (Project Management) (Aug 2010 – Feb 2013)

University of Bedfordshire – Bedfordshire, England

  • Directed programs in Project and Operations Management.
  • Improved postgraduate recruitment and achieved industry accreditation.

Project and Change Management Consultant (Jan 2002 – Apr 2010)

Trinidad and Tobago

  • Designed and implemented project and program frameworks for public and private clients.
  • Delivered change management and benefits realization initiatives.

Project Engineer / Caribbean Market Manager (2002 – 2009)

Mittal Steel, Trinidad & VSH Steel, Suriname

  • Led industrial construction and maintenance projects.
  • Monitored performance and managed project logistics and customer relations.
Selected Publications

Professor Williams has published extensively on Project Management, Systems Thinking, and Responsible Innovation. His research integrates systems methodologies to explore interdisciplinary challenges in projects, events, and tourism.

  • Williams, N., Ninan, J., & Kwak, Y. H. (2024). Online Firestorms in Twitter: Exploring Risks to Large Infrastructure Projects from Digital Communities. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.
  • Williams, N. L., Wassler, P., & Fedeli, G. (2023). Social Representations of War Tourism: A Case of Ukraine. Journal of Travel Research, 62(4), 926–932.
  • Chowdhury, M., Williams, N. L., Thompson, K., & Ferdous, G. (2022). The Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh. Third World Quarterly, 43(9), 2188–2208.
  • Pasian, B. L., & Williams, N. L. (Eds.). (2023). De Gruyter Handbook of Responsible Project Management. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG.
  • Williams, N., Ferdinand, N., & Pasian, B. (2022). Responsible Project Data Analytics. CRC Press.

Full publication list: Research Portal

Successful External Funding Applications
  • Innovate UK KTP (2024) – £314,000 – Evaluation Framework for Evidence-Informed Decision-Making
  • ICIKS Conference (2023) – £12,000
  • Innovate UK KTP Capacity Building (2023) – £30,000
  • Innovate UK AKTP (2022) – £35,000 – Key Traceability Digital Systems Transformation
  • Innovate UK KTP (2021) – £214,000 – Fresh Fitness Production System Development
  • GCRF (2018) – £30,000 – Responsible Project Management at Rohingya Refugee Camp
  • HER Fund (2019) – £71,000 – Developing Responsible Project Management Competencies via VR
External Roles
  • Director, Academic and Research – Project Management Institute (PMI) UK Chapter
  • Director – UK Systems Society
Contact Details

Richmond Building,
Portland Street,
Portsmouth, Hampshire PO13DE, United Kingdom
Mail: nigel.williams@port.ac.uk