Would you mind sharing a little about your background and career journey?
I am a second year PhD student in Design Engineering, having joined in October 2024. Prior to joining CSEP, I was the Innovation Researcher for a startup accelerator and a researcher for institutional investors. Academically, my background is in Political Economy having graduated from my postgraduate degree in 2021.
What are you focusing on right now, and what do you find most rewarding about it?
I’m particularly interested in how sustainability-oriented digital entrepreneurs contribute to regional sustainable development in the UK. In terms of ongoing projects, I’m just finishing up a problematising review of the entrepreneurial ecosystems concept and I’m excited to begin work investigating how entrepreneurs actualise climate and economic imaginaries. Additionally, I’m exciting to be assisting a team at the Environmental Research Group which aims to improve the accessibility of air quality information in London.
What inspired you to join the Centre for Sectoral Economic Performance?
I was attracted to the interdisciplinary approach by the centre and, having come from industry, the focus on closing the gap between research and practice was particularly exciting.
What are your interests outside your work?
I’m a big football fan, supporting Norwich City, and will be looking forward to the World Cup this summer. Otherwise, I love the outdoors and you can find me running, cycling, hiking, and skiing.
Do you have a favourite paper, study, book or project that has influenced your career path so far?
There are many! In terms of books, Henry Yeung’s (2024) Theory and Explanation in Geography has been particularly influential. Otherwise, articles that have been influential for my work include Ramoglou and McMullen’s (2024) What Is an Opportunity? From Theoretical Mystification to Everyday Understanding and Blyth and Matthijs’ (2017) Black Swans, Lame Ducks, and the Mystery of IPE’s Missing Macroeconomy.