Governance & How We Work

Lancaster’s ACE-CSE is built on strong, visible commitment from senior leadership. Our governance model ensures strategic focus, operational clarity and long-term sustainability.

Leadership Structure

Senior Champions

The ACE-CSE is championed at a senior level by the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Engagement, Prof Sarah Kemp and the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Digital and International Prof Simon Guy. Both PVCs sit on the University Executive Board and jointly oversee the ACE-CSE activities. Additionally, Prof Kemp is the Senior Lead for the Data Cyber Quarter Programme, together with Prof Guy's oversight of ISS, provides senior access to the key activities that enable our ACE-CSE to be a success.

Sarah Kemp

Professor Sarah Kemp

Pro-Vice Chancellor

Morecambe Bay Curriculum

+44 (0)7766 991931
Simon Guy

Professor Simon Guy

Professor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Global (Digital, International, Sustainability)

Evaluation, Imagination Lancaster

Co-Directors

The ACE-CSE is led by Professors Daniel Prince and Simon Cook, drawing on one of the UK’s strongest socio-technical cyber-security communities. 

Daniel Prince

Professor Daniel Prince

Professor of Cyber Security

Cyber Security Research Centre (Security Group), Cyber Threat Lab, i-DID , SCC (Security), Security Lancaster

+44 (0)1524 522368 B64, B - Floor, InfoLab21
Simon Cook

Professor Simon Cook

Professor in Practice - Data and Cyber Research, Enterprise and Engagement – Department of Linguistics

Security Lancaster, Security Lancaster (Behavioural Science), Security Lancaster (Societal Threats)

Governance Board

Meets three times per year to:

  • review strategy
  • monitor performance
  • ensure alignment with institutional priorities
  • provide senior-level challenge and oversight

A specialist University Council advisory group with national-security expertise supports the board.

Operational delivery

Day-to-day delivery is coordinated through:

  • a dedicated ACE-CSE officer
  • weekly DCQ programme meetings
  • cross-faculty academic collaboration
  • integration with ISS, Library, Doctoral College and outreach teams

Actions are tracked through shared dashboards and planning tools.