Chris Saunders

Senior Teaching Fellow 

Dr Chris Saunders is a Senior Teaching Fellow in the area of leadership and responsibility, and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He is Director of Teaching for the Department of Entrepreneurship and Strategy. Previously, Chris served as Associate Dean for Postgraduate Education (2019-2023) and has directed LUMS MBA and Executive MBA programmes. He consults globally to business schools worldwide on MBA programmes and accreditation issues.  

Chris's research area is the processes involved in becoming a leader. He is a published author, with a textbook on Leadership with Oxford University Press (3rd edition). 

Chris teaches leading responsibly and CSR. The majority of his teaching is for MBA students or executive education clients.

From 2015-2019 Chris was Executive MBA Director responsible for EMBA cohorts in the UK, Ghana and Malaysia. Prior to that Chris directed the full-time MBA programme 2010-2015. Outside of Lancaster Chris was a non-executive Board member and audit committee chair of Bolton at Home, a social housing business (2010-2017). He has previously worked in variety of public and private sector businesses, including EDS, Hounslow Council and as General Manager of a successful small business, the Golden Hinde Educational Museum Ship, a fully working replica of Sir Francis Drake’s 16th century sailing ship. 

Exploring the everyday processes of becoming a leader

FMBA520 Leading Responsibly (MBA programme)

FMBA514 Responsible Management & Ethics (MBA programme)

ENSI539 Entrepreneurial Leadership and Change (MSc International Business & Strategy & MSc Innovation and Entrepreneurship) 

ENSI217 Personal Leadership Development (BSc Hons Business Management (Entrepreneurship))

ENSI308 Entrepreneurial Challenge (dissertations) (BSc Hons Business Management (Entrepreneurship)) 

External Examiner, MBA Programmes, Durham University Business School

Judge, QS Reimagine Education Awards

Panel Member, AMBA Accreditation 

Former Chief External Examiner, University of Westminster

Former Board Member and Chair of Audit Committee: Bolton at Home

PhD in Management and Leadership (Lancaster)

MPhil in Critical Management (Lancaster)
MBA (Lancaster)
BA (Hons) in Ancient History (Newcastle upon Tyne)

Principal Fellow of the HEA