David Bridges is  an Emeritus Professor at UEA and was previously Dean of the School of Education and Pro Vice Chancellor. He is also Professorial Fellow in the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education and Emeritus Fellow at St Edmund’s College, Cambridge where  until 2008 he directed the Von Hugel Institute. Between 2000 and 2006 he was Director of the Association of Universities in the East of England in this role established a number of regional bodies bringing HE and community stakeholders into partnership.  He is Honorary Vice President of the Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain and founded both the EERA  Philosophy of Education Network  and the BERA Philosophy of Education SIG. He is a member of both BERA and EERA Councils and served on both the 2001 and 2008 Research Assessment panels for Education. Much of his recent writing reflects his interest in the relations between philosophy, empirical research and policy and practice. He has worked extensively in international education, including an on-going commitment to educational development in Ethiopia for the last 23 years.