She was also the prime mover behind the development and launch of the UK National Foundation Degree in Retailing. She is also the former Chair of the Academy of Marketing (AM), which is the international learned society for marketing academics. Professor Ashford was a former Board Member of the Association of Business Schools (now CABS), and working with other stakeholders, she enjoys promoting the voice of diversity within Business Schools nationally
With research interests in Management Competencies and the positioning of UK Business Schools, Professor Ashford was previously invited and completed national level work on the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for Higher Education Review Panel for the UK Benchmark Standards in the teaching of Business and Management for both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
She holds a PhD from Lancaster University, where her research focuses on Consumer Behaviour; and during her career, she has been decorated with leadership awards in the HE sector.
Professor Ashford has co-authored over 30 journal articles and 8 books on Strategic Marketing/Management. She has also written on diverse subjects including: Women in Leadership; Developing Entrepreneurial Skills in Adolescents; Marketing Secondary Schools and Sixth Form Colleges; Planning Supply Chain Production in Manufacturing Small Businesses; Female Career Progression and Users’ Perspectives of Online Kiosks