Professor Roberts is a Professor of Virology, having studied for her PhD at the BBSRC Institute for Animal Health (now the Pirbright Institute) and the University of Kent. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Product Development Manager for Procter and Gamble. Before joining Exeter, Lisa was Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Leeds. Prior to this, she was Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Surrey.
Lisa is a Board member of the Russell Group, a Board member of Jisc, and a Board member of Universities UK, where she was also recently elected as the Policy Lead for Student Experience, Education and Skills. Lisa also chairs the IDP Connect Strategic Advisory Board, and is an inaugural Commissioner for the South-West Social Mobility Commission. In 2023, she was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Surrey.