To date I have held a range of professional positions and this has provided me with a breadth of career experiences. Over time and prior to my appointment as a Lecturer in Spatial Planning I was a European Funding Officer, a Research Manager and Training and Development Officer. These positions were held within a range of organisations from the voluntary and statutory sectors including a housing association and local government. As a result of this diverse background and in addition to my expertise in research and teaching, I have particular skills and experience in research development and management, research funding and community development and regeneration
I currently co-ordinate the following modules:
EVP2010 Economy and SpaceEVP3011 Independent Research ModuleEVP3014 Themes in Spatial Planning
I aim to employ a breadth of approaches to ensure positive engagement with students. My delivery techniques include: lectures, seminars, project work, small and large group work, case studies and study visits.
My areas of teaching competence include
•· Governance
•· Economics and development
•· Participation and involvement
•· Introductory economics
•· Interdisciplinary science - a sociological perspective
•· Rural Sociology
•· Research design and Qualitative methods
•· Community Development/community studies
Member of the School Research Ethics Committee
Careers Liaison Academic for Spatial Planning
Academic Offences Representative for Spatial Planning
Personal Tutor
I am currently supervising the following PhD students: Anne Rice (with Dr. Aileen Stockdale); Lori McVeigh (with Dr. Sally Shortall) and Jonathan Bell (with Dr. Jenny Muir and Dr. Aileen Stockdale).
My main research interests are rural development theory, policy and practice; participation; governance; community; sustainable development and regeneration; regional and economic development; social networks; research methodologies; interdisciplinary research; and migrant communities.
I am currently conducting research on migrant workers in Northern Ireland. This is a pilot project that has been funded by the Nuffield Foundation and is due to be completed in 2009.
The relevance of my work to society is evident in my outreach activities. I continue to receive invitations locally and internationally to participate in research networks and projects; to evaluate research projects; and to contribute to policy development. Most recently I was invited to join the UK wide Research Information Network, an initiative of the UK Funding Councils to address the information and research needs of researchers through project work and also by influencing policy. In addition I am involved in a number of international research networks including the European Society for Rural Sociology, QUCAN International Rural Research Network and the Scottish Academy of Rural Policy. At a more local level I am vice-chair of the NI Rural Development Council and a member of NISRAs Steering Group to oversee the Review of Measures of Spatial Deprivation. I am also an expert evaluator for different European bodies including the European Commission and the European Science Foundation. As a result I have evaluated Research Framework applications as well as representing the European Standing Committee on Social Sciences at research seminars.
Papers and presentations
By Invitation:
Conferences:
