Biography
I am Professor of Sustainability and Innovation and Director of Research at Keele Business School. I am an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research in Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester, and a member of the Steering Committee of Future Earth's Knowledge Action Network on Systems of Sustainable Consumption and Production. I co-lead Future Earth's KANSSCP Working Group on the Circular Economy. I am a member of the British Academy of Management Peer Review College and UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships Peer Review College.
Prior to Keele, I worked at Manchester Metropolitan University (2018-2020), The University of Manchester (2004-2018) and UMIST (1999-2004). My PhD was awarded by The University of Manchester in 2005.
Research and scholarship
My research focuses on the role of innovation in systems of sustainable consumption and production. Much of my past work has looked at eco-innovation in the food and built environment sectors. More recently I've explored the factors facilitating and hindering the circular economy, and the sustainability implications of innovations stimulated by crises. My research has been funded by external grants totalling over £1.5m, including, most recently, funding in 2020 from US National Science Foundation to establish a series of working groups exploring how COVID19 can contribute to sustainability transitions, and in 2021 from the British Academy to explore processes of formalisation and circularity in the Amazon rainforest.
Outputs from my research have been published in high impact international journals (e.g. Ecological Economics; Public Management Review; Journal of Cleaner Production; Process Safety and Environmental Protection; Resources, Conservation & Recycling; Journal of Industrial Ecology). See Google Scholar citations here.
I am currently supervising two PhDs at Keele.
- Elliott Lancaster started in 2019 undertaking a comparative study of responsible enterprises across nations of the UK.
- Eugene Boadu started in 2018 studying climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies of MNE subsidiaries.
Before starting at Keele, I supervised six PhD researchers to completion on a variety of topics related to innovation and sustainable consumption and production:
- Isabelle Velasquez, Corporate financial and sustainability performance, 2020
- Jose Pineda, The process of moving closer to the formal economy, 2020
- Oliver Laasch, Business Model Change through Embedding Corporate Responsibility-Sustainability?Logics, Devices, Actor Networks, 2018
- Yu Chia Ko, Effect of Government Actions on Technological Innovation for UK's Carbon Capture and Storage, 2018
- Nichola Hutson, Exploring the Institutional Work of an Industry Association in the Greening of Industrial Sectors, 2017
- Leonie Dendler, Sustainability Meta Labelling: Prospects and potential challenges for institutionalisation, 2013
I invite applications for PhD study from researchers interested in exploring the role of innovation in contributing to more sustainable consumption and production, especially with respect to the circular economy.
Teaching
My teaching approach is based on an underlying problem based learning pedagogy and interactive ‘lecture’ sessions, engaging students in deeper learning. My interest in interactive teaching began in 2006 following involvement with the Centre for Excellence in Enquiry Based Learning at the University of Manchester. I attended the International Teachers Programme in 2011 at Kellogg Management School, Northwestern University and came back persuaded by the learning power of interactive teaching.
Recognition of my innovative teaching and commitment to excellence in education is best illustrated by recent awards, including:
- 'Outstanding Teaching for Sustainability' at the Manchester Metropolitan University Student Union Teaching Awards, 2019
- ‘Innovations that Inspire’ at The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), 2016
- The University of Manchester Distinguished Achievement Award 'Teacher of the Year', 2015
At Keele Business School I teach the following MSc modules:
- Contemporary Challenges in Global Business, part of the MSc International Business
- Creativity, Innovation and Quality, part of the Senior Leaders MBA
- Creativity, Quality and Innovation, part of the Online MBA
My interest in interactive teaching stimulated an example of teaching-led research. Based on early work in the curriculum around ‘Gamifying sustainable choices', I collaborated with colleagues from Health Sciences at the University of Manchester, and industrial and societal stakeholders to apply innovative learning approaches to healthy ageing interventions. With funding from ESRC, GMAHSN, Innovation Fund Denmark, Health Innovation Manchester and ICURe, we developed and tested a gamified digital technology for falls prevention and healthy ageing. In 2019, I co-founded a company, Keep-On-Keep-Up Health. Our work with Keep-On-Keep-Up was recognised with an award for 'Outstanding Contribution to Social Innovation' at The University of Manchester Making a Difference Awards 2019.
Selected Publications
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Hand in glove Processes of formalization and the circular economy post COVID19. IEEE Engineering Management Review, 1. doi> link> full text>2020.
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Circular economy finance: Clear winner or risky proposition?. Journal of Industrial Ecology, Article jiec.13025. doi> full text>2020.
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A brave new world: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic for transitioning to sustainable supply and production. Resour Conserv Recycl, 104894, vol. 159. link> doi> full text>2020.
- 2019.
- 2018.
Full Publications Listshow
Books
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Technology, Knowledge, and the Firm Implications for Strategy and Industrial Change. Edward Elgar Publishing.2005.
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Innovation in Construction A European Analysis. Edward Elgar Publishing.2004.
Journal Articles
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Applying enquiry and problem based learning to mission-oriented innovation policy: from policy to pedagogy to teaching and learning practice. Journal of International Education in Business. doi> link> full text>2022.
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From panic to dispassionate rationality - Organizational responses in procurement after the initial COVID-19 pandemic peak. IEEE Engineering Management Review. doi> link> full text>2021.
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Changing of the guard: A paradigm shift for more sustainable supply chains. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Article 105587, vol. 170. doi> link> full text>2021.
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From Sustainable Global Value Chains to Circular Economy-Different Silos, Different Perspectives, but Many Opportunities to Build Bridges. Circ Econ Sustain, 21-47, vol. 1(1). link> doi> full text>2021.
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Hand in glove Processes of formalization and the circular economy post COVID19. IEEE Engineering Management Review, 1. doi> link> full text>2020.
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Overcoming the Arrogance of Ignorance: Supply-Chain Lessons from COVID-19 for Climate Shocks. One Earth, 9-12, vol. 3(1). link> doi> link> full text>2020.
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Circular economy finance: Clear winner or risky proposition?. Journal of Industrial Ecology, Article jiec.13025. doi> full text>2020.
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A brave new world: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic for transitioning to sustainable supply and production. Resour Conserv Recycl, 104894, vol. 159. link> doi> full text>2020.
- 2019.
- 2019.
- 2018.
- 2018.
- 2016.
- 2015.
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Structural change and the nature of innovative activity: Legal form and firm performance. Innovation, 257-269, vol. 5(2-3). doi>2003.
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Entrepreneurship, institutional variety and economic development. Innovation and Development, 111-127, vol. 4(1). doi>2014.
- 2013.
- 2013.
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FACTORS ENABLING AND INHIBITING SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES IN CONSTRUCTION: THE CASE OF ACTIVE SOLAR HEATING SYSTEMS. International Journal of Innovation Management, 257-276, vol. 06(03). doi>2002.
- 2007.
- 2008.
- 2008.
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New lessons for technology policy and climate change: investment for innovation. CLIMATE POLICY, 156-161, vol. 7(2). link>2007.
- 2006.
- 2005.
- 2004.
- 2004.
- 2004.
- 2002.
- 2002.
- 2002.
Chapters
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Applying game thinking to slips, trips and falls prevention. In Harnessing the power of technology to improve lives. IOS Press.2017.
- 2014.
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Social entrepreneurship for the generation of networking capabilities. In Catching Up, Spillovers and Innovation Networks in a Schumpeterian Perspective. Springer. link>2011.
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Facilitating a more sustainable food and farming sector in the UK. In System Innovation for Sustainability 3: Case Studies in Sustainable Consumption and Production – Food and Agriculture. Greenleaf Publishing. link>2010.
Other
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Circular economy opportunities for sustainability transitions in the post-COVID-19 era.
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Regenerative eco-innovation practices for the built environment.
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Regenerative eco-innovation practices for the built environment.
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Regulation and regenerative eco-innovation: implications for the circular economy, Oil and Gas Technology Centre sponsored workshop on Circular Economy and Collaboration.
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Fostering engagement with digital health interventions: AR/VR in falls prevention among older adults.
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The process of moving closer to formality: implications for existing approaches of the informal economy.
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Social entrepreneurship and transdisciplinary research: challenges and opportunities of co-developing a gamified digital technology.
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Social entrepreneurship and transdisciplinary research: challenges and opportunities of co-developing a gamified digital technology panel discussion will offer insights into the triple helix in action.
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New solutions for old problems: a collaborative approach.
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The development of a gamified digital health application to improve knowledge and influence behaviour to prevent falls, increase exercise levels and improve bone health in older people.
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The informal economy and institutional change: The process of moving closer to formality.
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Future Earth Sustainable Consumption and Production Knowledge Action Network Working Group on Global Value Chains.
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Centralised multi-actor institutional change processes in an authoritarian state: responses to the melamine crisis in china.
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Knowledge Action Networks on Global Value Chains for Sustainable Consumption and Production.
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Regenerative eco-innovation, regulation and SDG.
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Applying game thinking to slips, trips and falls prevention.
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Regenerative eco-innovation, regulation and the circular economy.
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Institutional entrepreneurship and sustainable consumption and production: national processors and institutional change in China’s dairy industry.
- 2017.
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Developing and feasibility testing a gamified app for learning to prevent slips, trips and falls among the over 65s.
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Gamifying learning.
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Gamifying learning.
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How effective is a games-centric approach in changing student eco behaviours?. Eco Action Games. link>2016.
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Gamification and transformative learning.
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Powerful alliances and institutional change: Sustainable consumption and production in China’s dairy industry.
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Tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I’ll understand: Creating interaction in the classroom and beyond.
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Can ‘gamification’ facilitate transformative learning?. link>
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Gamifying sustainable choices. link>
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Institutional entrepreneurship and sustainable consumption and production: national processors and institutional change in China’s dairy industry.
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Participatory learning through gamification: Reflections on the University Grand Challenge Pilot. link>
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Focal organisations and sustainable consumption and production systems: Institutional entrepreneurship in China’s dairy industry.
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Institutionalisation of organic labelling in the People’s Republic of China.
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Focal organisations, relational capability and accelerated eco-innovation.
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Eco-innovation and focal actors.
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Focal organisations, relational capability and accelerated eco-innovation.
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The bio-economy – history rhymes?.
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Enquiry based learning for UG teaching.
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Demand-led innovation for Sustainable Consumption.
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Eco-innovation and focal actors in the milk production and distribution system.
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Focal organisations: stimulating eco-innovation within production and distribution systems.
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Greening the white stuff.
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Accelerating and redirecting environmental innovation in milk production and consumption.
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Innovation and Corporate Governance in European Construction.
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Integrating sustainability into the innovation process.
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“Sustainability and new product development”.
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Sustainable technology management.
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The environmental, social and economic impacts associated with liquid milk consumption in the UK and its production.2007.
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Environmental impacts of food production and consumption. link>2006.
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An Institutional approach to evolutionary growth modelling.
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Going to pot? Factors inhibiting and facilitating the adoption of sustainable technologies in the yoghurt industry.
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Long-term implications of nanotechnology for the environment.
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Structural Change and the nature of innovative activity: Legal form and firm performance in the manufacturing industries of Colombia and the UK.
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Sustainable technologies and the construction industry: An international assessment of regulation, governance and inter-firm networks.
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Sustainable technologies and the construction industry: An international perspective.
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Globalisation and the environment: the long-term effects of technology on the international division of labour and energy demand.
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Technological Change, Industrial Structure & the Environment.
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COVID-19 can help wealthier nations prepare for a sustainability transition. link>
Keele Business School
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Keele University
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Tel: +44 (0) 1782 733109
Undergraduate enquiries:
Tel: +44 (0) 1782 734281
Email: kbs.ug@keele.ac.uk
Postgraduate enquiries:
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Email: kbs.pg@keele.ac.uk