About – Jan-Peter Herbst
I help universities and other high-scrutiny organisations adopt AI with clear governance, measurable outcomes, and workflows that teams actually use. I am a Professor of Music and Research Leader at the University of Huddersfield, Co-Director of its Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence, a Chartered Manager, and the founder of several research and music-tech initiatives.
Why that background is useful for you
I bring an insider's empathy and an independent perspective
I have managed complex, multi-year projects with substantial budgets and scrutiny
I use AI tools daily in my own research and ventures, from funding applications and data analysis to building full web applications
This combination means I can align senior leadership on governance and risk, work with practitioners to map real workflows, and then build or supervise the systems that carry the work into routine practice.
Selected highlights
- •Full Professor / Chair in Music; department research coordinator
- •Leadership of externally funded research across AHRC, DFG, Horizon Europe, Leverhulme, and EPSRC programmes
- •Author or editor of 10 books and more than 50 peer-reviewed publications on music, technology, and creative industries
- •Chartered Manager (CMgr) with Level 7 strategic management and leadership qualification
- •Founder of The Metal Crowd, a platform exploring crowdfunding and blockchain for music
- •Arts and Humanities representative on a university AI in Research Task Force
- •Managing a seven-figure annual research budget and line-managing a team of seven postdoctoral researchers
- •Has served as an appointed member of the AHRC Peer Review College, reviewing national research funding applications
I also have a practical background as a musician (guitar) and producer, which helps when AI questions involve creative practice, attribution, and IP - common concerns in arts and humanities contexts.
Herbst Systems is based in the UK (West Yorkshire) and works with clients across Europe and beyond.