Rachael completed her PhD at Ulster University in 2009. She has produced research outputs in the areas of sport and national identity. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has been a member of the editorial board of Sport In Society since 2009. Her research interests include: sport and national identity, lifestyle and extreme sports, as well as teaching and learning research and student employability. Rachael contributes to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, research, community outreach and consultancy within the School of Sport.Rachael is the Course Director for the MSc Sport & Exercise Nutrition at Ulster University and the undergraduate work experience placement co-coordinator within the School of Sport at Jordanstown. Rachael is also the School of Sport’s Erasmus coordinator and study abroad lead. She is co-lead for employability within the School of Sport and has the led the development, design and launch of a new employability website resource for prospective through to graduate students. This resource will be developed across all schools at Ulster University and is the first of its kind as a tailored employability enhancement tool for students at whatever stage of their employability journey that they are on.Rachael was the lead in establishing Ulster University as the first university in Ireland and the second university in the United Kingdom to become an Active IQ accredited assessment centre who have the capacity to deliver an extensive range of fitness industry qualifications to students and the members of the public throughout various locations in Northern Ireland.