Amer Alwarea is Associate Dean for Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise at University of the Arts London (UAL), where he supports the development of strategies that link academic practice with external partners across industry, policy, and the public sector. His work focuses on fostering inclusive, place-based innovation and enhancing the role of the creative industries in regional development.
Amer’s experience spans research, knowledge exchange, and enterprise leadership across higher education and the creative economy. He has led cross-sector partnerships, supported creative R&D ecosystems, and contributed to the development of infrastructure for public engagement and cultural enterprise. His approach brings together research, policy, and practice to explore how the arts and design can inform social and economic transformation.
Before joining UAL, Amer held senior roles at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), including Acting Director of Research & Innovation, where he led institutional planning for REF2021 and supported the development of research and impact frameworks across creative disciplines. He contributes to national research policy through advisory roles with UKRI’s Research Organisation Consultation Group and the Vitae Policy Advisory Group. He is also a Trustee of the Crafts Study Centre, supporting research-led approaches to contemporary craft and material culture.
Amer’s work includes international collaboration, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, where he has been involved in cultural heritage research, creative cluster development, and post-conflict reconstruction initiatives. He holds a PhD in Architecture and Planning from the University of Dundee. His research interests include creative economies, place leadership, and the civic role of the arts in shaping equitable and sustainable futures.