Editor
Joyce Connolly
Joyce's first step on the career ladder was working at Oxford University Press until she left to travel the world. Settling in Australia she worked for Thompson Publishing before landing a job as a book editor and later as a writer with a travel guide publisher. Her responsibilities included researching countries, finding out vital information on destinations and helping to create a guide for each country. After periodically returning to the UK, Joyce settled in Leeds, starting work in the Communications team in 2005, taking over responsibility for Leeds Met Matters. Nowadays, her main project is internal communications and producing the staff magazine, LS126, on top of creating e-newsletters and contributing to the University website and team projects.
Although she has a strong publishing background, LS126 was the first magazine Joyce had worked on. She has really enjoyed developing the magazine from the original concept through to a publication that she believes reflects the diversity of our staff and highlights the opportunities available to all of us. She particularly enjoys the opportunity to go out and find out more about individual staff who are doing interesting things inside and outside of work.
Designer
Alex Keating
Alex has worked at numerous agencies and print companies in his career, working on fashion and music-oriented magazines as well as corporate publications and advertising campaigns. As well as being one of our team of in-house designers and the main designer of LS126, he recently completed a Masters in Art & Graphic Design.
Photographers
Kiran Mehta, Leeds Metropolitan University
Vicky Matthers, Iconphotomedia
Vicky and Kiran are commissioned to take images for the magazine. Their images are also sourced from the Leeds Met image bank that captures everyday University life and major highlights as well as the people involved in them.
Kiran has worked at Leeds Met for the past 18 years, starting as assistant photographer and ultimately becoming the University's main staff photographer. A well known face around the University, he has extensive and good relationships across all areas. Highlights of his time here include working with famous names such as Amitabh Bachchan, Dame Kelly Holmes and Senator George Mitchell, and photographing from the touchline at Wembley.
Vicky began her working life as a sports photographer for a specialist agency in Leeds covering premiership football, rugby and cricket. She has covered major international sports events, including photographing the Great Britain Rugby League team for six weeks during their tour of Papua New Guineau, Fiji and New Zealand. A creative all-rounder she approaches handling all kinds of shoots, from capturing budgies in sheds to sports stars in action, with equal enthusiasm.