Stephen was previously Head of the School of Media and Communication, Director of the International Institute for Electronic Library Research and Director of Knowledge Media Design at De Montfort University; Senior Technology Adviser at the JISC Technologies Centre; Head of Distance Learning at BT; Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor in Engineering Design; and President of the Association for Learning Technology. He has also been a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and an Associate Member of the Institute for Ergonomics and Human Factors.