Shephard has worked in the higher education sector for over 20 years, having joined the University of Central Lancashire as a Research Assistant before progressing to his current role as Senior Lecturer in Fire Safety Engineering in 2004. He has been the programme leader for several fire courses at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston and at various partner institutions including the International College of Engineering and Management, Sultanate of Oman and Ras Laffan Emergency and Safety College, Qatar. Prior to this, he worked as a firefighter at the Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance Service, Zimbabwe.
His teaching covers a wide range of subject areas in fire safety engineering and over the years, he has developed a keen interest in developing fire safety engineering education and improving its delivery internationally.
Shephard is an active member of the IFE North Western (Lancashire group) Branch Council and over the years has coordinated regional and national conferences, workshops and CPD programmes for IFE members and fire students. He is also a Trustee of Operation Florian, a Fire and Rescue Service Humanitarian Charity which assists fire and rescue services throughout the world to develop and improve their firefighting and rescue infrastructure.