I am a Senior Lecturer in Geography & Development at Manchester Metropolitan University. My research interests include the governance of risk, stakeholder engagement in decision-making, and climate change resilience and adaptation. I have published in the field of participation in planning, climate change adaptation and on critical interpretations of resilience and climate adaptation. Though theoretically informed, my work is of significant policy and practice interest.
In 2015 I developed a Code of Practice for flood resilient technology in collaboration with the Building Research Establishment (Six steps for flood resilience). This influenced the recently published Code of Practice and guidance for property flood resilience (CIRIA). I have additionally advised Defra on the development of a cohort of surveyors to support property owners in adopting resilience technologies, and the BSI on adapting building standards to take account of flood risk. Most recently I was an UKRI Climate Science embedded researcher advising Manchester Climate Change Agency (MCCA) and Manchester City Council on the development of more robust policies for adaptation and resilience. I continue this work through my role as Chair of the MCCA’s Adaptation and Resilience Advisory Group, as well as several other local authority climate advisory groups.
Interests and expertise
– Climate risk and adaptation.
– Critical interpretations of resilience.
– Public and civil society engagement in decision-making and governance.
– Working at the interface of academia and policy & practice.