Dr Laura Bellingham is a life scientist by training, having undertaken her PhD in Zoology at the University of Liverpool, worked in research at Jersey and Bristol Zoos, and lectured in Animal Science at Nottingham Trent University. She joined the QAA in 2005 where she works as a Development Officer in the Development and Enhancement Group.

Laura has worked on a variety of projects related to the Academic Infrastructure, the set of reference points used by UK universities in maintaining the quality of the student experience and standards of degrees and other qualifications. Most recently, she has led the development of a new set of guidelines for universities managing the experiences of international students and the development of an explanatory framework for student-staff contact hours.