Heather D. Flowe

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT HEATHER D. FLOWE

I am a Professor of Psychology at the University of Birmingham, a global top-100 and Russell Group institution, where I am Deputy Head of College for the College of Life and Environmental Sciences. My research focuses on trauma, memory, sexual violence, and identification, and has shaped national policy, global practice, and justice system reforms.My work on rape, alcohol, and memory has been central to improving how legal systems understand testimony in sexual offence cases. My research has informed Crown Prosecution Service national policy, challenged persistent myths about intoxication and trauma recall, and guidance for police and prosecutors. My findings have been cited by courts around the world, and I contribute regularly to briefings for the Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, as examples.I also lead major international research programmes on humanitarian protection. As Principal Investigator of the £2.1M UKRI Rights for Time Network, and now the €3.1m EU Horizon TRACE project on tech-facilitated GBV, I work with NGOs and CSOs across Europe, Africa and the Middle East to strengthen evidence preservation and protection in fragile contexts. My research on female genital mutilation mortality, which identifies it as the fourth leading cause of death in practising countries, fuels my drive to support organisations and policymakers working to improve protection and accountability.Another key strand of my work focuses on eyewitness memory and identification. Over the past decade, I have pioneered with colleagues interactive lineup technology. Tested with of participants, these lineups yield 40–70% accuracy gains over traditional methods and are reshaping global identification practice. My work has been featured in the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, documentaries, and Scientific American.My leadership philosophy centres on curiosity, collaboration, and doing the work alongside others—staying close to the contexts I serve, listening to people, and focusing on evidence-based action. As College Director of Global Engagement (20••••26), I developed and implemented our global engagement strategy, increasing international income by 52% within 3 years, strengthening global partnerships, and building sustainable education pathways around the world. Earlier in my career, I served as President of the UC Graduate and Professional Student Association, representing all nine UC campuses—an experience that ignited my commitment to connecting universities with government, communities, and industry.