Valerie is a part-time lecturer on the Landscape Institute accredited MA Landscape Architecture and MA Landscape and Urbanism courses at Kingston University, leading the Studio Module and teaching ecological planting design. Her research interests lie in exploring the potential of residual urban spaces to support greater environmental, social and economic resilience.

Valerie has been a visiting critic and collaborated at a project level with a range of universities including University of East London, London Metropolitan University, Imperial College London, London School of Economics Cities Programme, London South Bank University and London College of Communications.