Dr Blackman-Woods was born and brought up in Belfast and studied at the University of Ulster, gaining a BSc and a PhD in Social Science.

Dr Blackman-Woods started her working life as a Welfare Rights officer for Newcastle City Council.  She later became a Lecturer at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and Councillor for the Sandyford ward in Newcastle.  She also spent a period of time as Dean of Social and Labour studies at Ruskin College, Oxford before moving on to be head of policy at the Local Government Information Unit.

She also has extensive voluntary sector experience, including helping to set up Women’s Aid (NI) and working in a consultancy capacity for Save the Children, the Child Poverty Action Group and the Housing Association movement.

Her most recent post before becoming an MP was as Professor of Social Policy at Northumbria University.  Dr Blackman-Woods' expertise is in policy, decision-making and the legislative process.  She is a specialist in education, housing and regeneration and is passionate about improving educational opportunities for young people and raising standards for all.

Since becoming an MP she has been very active in the House and in her constituency by taking an interest in a diverse range of issues such as education, climate change, affordable housing, buses, childcare and international development.

Roberta has previously served on the Education and Skills Select Committee and is currently a member of the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee and the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments.

She served as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Rt Hon Hilary Armstrong MP as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for Social Exclusion (May 2006 to Jun 2007) and PPS to the Rt Hon Des Browne MP, Secretary of State for Defence (July 2007 to October 2008)

Recently the Prime Minister appointed Roberta as Assistant Regional Minister and will be working with the Rt Hon Nick Brown MP to promote the North East in Westminster and around the country.