Research Development Director for Accounting and Financial and Management

Research Interests

1. Ownership, corporate governance and firm performance
2. Banking and credit markets
3. Impact of economic reforms

Areas of Research Supervision

1. Corporate governance
2. Corporate finance
3. Financial sector regulations

Research interests 

• Corporate Insolvency
• Corporate Restructurings
• Corporate Finance Mechanisms
• Debt Finance and Secured Transactions Regimes
• Corporate Control and Corporate Governance Structures
• International Commercial Arbitration

Research Interests

• Law and development
• Corporate governance
• Company law
• Financial regulation
• New Institutional Economics

Areas of Research Supervision 

• Law and development
• Corporate governance
• Financial regulation

Member of Sheffield Institute of Corporate and Commercial Law.

Senior Lecturer in Accounting

Ali's research interests primarily focus on exploring a variety of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues. For instance, Ali is a leading figure in the realm of research exploring the causes and outcomes of corporate environmental disclosure in both developed and emerging markets. Additionally, Ali leads research initiatives that examine the influence of various gender diversity-related criteria on improving the pro-sustainable performance of companies. Furthermore, his research interests extend to include Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), ethical accounting, global sustainability initiatives, Corporate Governance, and other relevant subjects.

Ali is available to supervise PhD students in the following areas:

• Corporate Environmental, Social and Ethical Disclosure and Performance.
• Climate Change Risk Management disclosure
• Corporate Sustainability and Governance.
• R&D and Eco-innovation.
• Corporate Energy Efficiency Policy and Renewable Energy Consumption

Lecturer in Accounting

Research Interest

• Stakeholder engagement, accountability, transparency, social and responsible investments, ethical and environmental concerns of the extractive industry
• Corporate governance and CSR surrounding the Sino-Africa 'barter', where Africa's mineral resources feed China's demand for raw materials in exchange for infrastructure, concessionary loans and grants.
• Political accountability and transparency. I.e., IMF, World Bank and other international interventions in the developing world, manifestos, engagement and delivery by political parties; as well as accountability, transparency an engagement within institutional structures of the state.
• In effect, sustainable development, social and critical accounting resonates around his research interest.

PhD Supervision

• Extractive sector accountability
• Corporate governance in emerging and frontier markets
• CSR practices in emerging and frontier market

Lecturer in International Politics

My research scrutinizes the intersection of corporate power, market-based modes of natural resource management, and the environmental politics of violence in the global South. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how new and emerging modes of transnational environmental and conflict governance, including corporate social responsibility, supply chains, and multi-stakeholder initiatives, are affecting the dynamics of contentious resource politics in peripheral local spaces. 

Barbara’s research concern is Equity within the politics of businesses.

Barbara discusses the inter-related aspects of accounting, politics, regulation and discourses.

Current work is divided into three projects:

• Diversity – including understanding initiatives and politics concerning diversity in the corporate space, including issues of sexuality, gender, identity and intersectionality. All projects endeavour to uncover the role of accounting through multi-spheres and multi-voices.
• Corporate social responsibility and sustainability – involving a deeper understanding of the meanings of sustainability and the politics of sustainability for business and its appropriation of knowledge.
• Financial accounting and regulation – including discussing the influence of neoliberal and post-colonial policies on financial accounting standards, regulation of auditing and the impacts on businesses and societies.

Barbara is interested in supervising projects relating to:

• Critical accounting perspectives on the role of accounting and auditing concerning technologies, regulation and practices
• Deeper understandings of the meanings of sustainability and the politics of sustainability for business and its appropriation of knowledge
• Understandings of the neoliberal and (post)colonial policies on financial accounting and auditing standards
• Examination of the diversity and inclusion initiatives in a range of businesses
• Critical exploration of intersectionality, sexuality and gender within accounting, accountants and/or corporate praxis
• Exploration of Accounting Education - reflecting, recognising and incorporating diverse values and cultures

Research interests

My interests are in housing and urban governance, citizenship and social cohesion. 

Beth’s research focuses on critically interrogating and developing pathways to more just sustainable urban futures. She focusses on urban governance, transformation and the roles of universities, with an emphasis on socio-environmental and socio-cultural transitions.

She is currently leading three major UK projects focussed on co-producing urban transformations, with a team of researchers working across the Urban Institute and Sheffield Methods Institute:

• Jam and Justice: Co-producing Urban Governance for Social Innovation is a three-year project funded by the ESRC Urban Transformations programme, with partners at the Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation and the Universities of Manchester and Birmingham.
  
• Whose Knowledge Matters? Competing and Contesting Knowledge Claims in 21st Century Cities is a collaboration between the University of Sheffield and University of Twente in the Netherlands funded by the Open Research Area initiative and focussed on citizen knowledges in sustainable urban development projects.
  
• Realising Just Cities is the four-year international collaboration programme of Mistra Urban Futures focussed on Greater Manchester and the Sheffield City-Region.

Associate Professor of Finance

Samer’s research is primarily focused on the interaction between stock market movements, macroeconomic forces, and corporate actions. He examines the extent to which companies 'learn' from the variations in their monetary and economic environment in developing and adjusting key corporate actions such as Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and Equity Offerings. He also studies the role of informed trading - within the framework of the Grossman-Stiglitz paradox and the original work of F.A. Hayek - in influencing stock returns at both the firm and market levels. Samer’s recent research focuses on the channels via which the richness of the information environment can be exploited by both investors and companies in properly positioning themselves in a complex business environment. He welcomes Ph.D. proposals in the fields of M&As, Equity Offerings, and Applied Monetary Analysis.

Research interests

My main research interests are within the area of information management, with specialist expertise in information governance and ethics. I have led and worked with colleagues from across a number of disciplines on externally funded projects in this area supported by the EPSRC, ESRC, AHRC, and Innovate UK. I predominantly use qualitative and mixed-methods.

PhD Supervision

Information governance and ethics; AI governance, accountability and ethics; trustworthy and responsible AI; information management.

I welcome all prospective PhD students interested in governance and public policy, political participation, EU and British politics, and issues of democratic authority and legitimacy. AI value engaged scholarship. PhDs under my supervision will therefore be particularly focused on transferrable skills and ensuring their work has 'impact'.

My primary research focus is in the areas of urban politics and governance. In particular, I investigate the contested politics of urban regeneration and the political economy of urbanisation, placing special focus on the analysis of the political mobilisation of iconic architecture and the contribution of grassroots politics to place making. 

Warren’s research lies at the intersection of science, policy and publics, with three main areas of research interest:

• Climate change communication and policy
• Public inclusion in research governance
• The rise of randomised trials within UK public policy

Warren holds a three-year ESRC Future Research Leaders fellowship (2016-19) to investigate the implications of the social media revolution for the science and politics of climate change. He has published in a wide range of high-impact academic journals across the natural, social and health sciences such as Nature, Nature Climate Change, PLOS-ONE, Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews, Policy Sciences, BMC Trials.

He is committed to discussing and debating his research across a range of locations. He was an invited participant in the U.S. Ambassador to the U.K.’s “Digital Dialogue on Climate Change” held at Winfield House in 2015, and an invited speaker at a Royal Society event on science and society in 2015. He has been an invited speaker on climate change and social media at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Open University, University of Exeter, University of Leeds, Tyndall Centre and University of Bristol. Warren’s research regularly appears in the international media, including The Guardian, The Independent, de Volkstrant, Der Spiegel, Scientific American, Research Fortnight and Huffington Post.

As a feminist critical geographer focused on postcolonial contexts, Nabeela's research interests and experience intersect three key domains: mobilities, borders and citizenship; urban inequalities (around class, gender and race); and digitisation and governance.

Nabeela's research is based mainly on ethnographic and collaborative methodologies, driven by a politics of social justice, and has to date been focused in South Asia.

Research interests

My research interests focus on the relationship between the management of information and knowledge, systems and innovation practices.

Specific interests are:

• knowledge sharing

• knowledge boundaries and boundary spanning activities

• knowledge absorption, absorptive capacity and innovation

• information failure and organizational learning

• online identities, communities of practice and virtual communities

• information systems adaptation

I bring a perspective to these themes influenced by Arenas/Social Worlds Theory, Practice Theory and approaches such as Discourse Analysis and Grounded Theory.

I am interested in supervising PhDs in the above areas.

Research interests

Peter's research interests lie primarily in the area of labour market adjustment, and he has worked in both open and closed economy frameworks. His work has been both theoretical and applied. Examples of his work include: an examination of the wage and employment effects of merger; Corporate governance reforms and executive compensation determination; the unemployment and income consequences for individuals of firm closure. He is particulary interested in supervising doctoral work using matched employer-employee data.

Linda is a Senior Research Fellow at the Urban Institute. Her research revolves around environmental politics, with a focus on urban climate governance, transformations, and justice. She joined the UI in 2019.

Standing at the brink of a global environmental crisis, the days of business as usual in environmental politics are over. Far-reaching interventions are required to address the global climate breakdown. However, such actions will inevitably bring deep social impacts. Linda’s research examines various components of the governance and politics of climate action, including dynamics of transformation and multiple dimensions of justice. In particular, her current work seeks to interrogate the epistemological foundations of environmental justice theory and explore emerging conceptual directions in dialogue with feminist and decolonial scholars.

Linda’s recent work involves documenting the evolution of urban imaginaries in international climate policy. This research points to the homogeneity of current climate discourse, including the limited possibilities to deliver transformative action from within dominant policy rationales. Overall, Linda’s work on international climate policy is transversed by a concern with the political economic arrangements that sustain international relations and the reproduction of hegemonic symbolic orders even through policy narratives that seek radical change.

Linda’s previous research has examined empirical and conceptual perspectives of urban climate governance. This includes the role of private sector actors in sustainability politics and environmental governance dynamics in cities in China. In particular, her research has questioned the application of theoretical frameworks and concept developed within Europe and North America (e.g., partnerships, multilevel governance, transitions, justice) in this political setting.

I am happy to supervise projects broadly in the field of poltiical ecology, especially related to biodiversity conservation. I am also a member of the Sheffield Institute for International Development (SIID). 

• The financial crisis and financial reform
• Governance and public policy
• British politics
• Political analysis and explanation

Research interests

My current research interests lie at the intersection of society, information needs and digital technologies, specifically investigating how different sections of society have their information needs met through accessing various digital technologies. Additionally, I' am also interested in digital transformation in organisations in general and information governance in the age of Industry 4.0 and 5.0.

PhD supervision

Information needs, information seeking, information governance, digital transformation.

• European politics (especially EU)
• European political economy (economic governance, social Europe)
• Identity and security politics in Europe (migration, enlargement, human rights, minorities)
• International Relations theory (cosmopolitanism, continental thought, Foucault)

Vanesa’s research focuses on the governance of global environmental change in the urbanization age. She focuses on three interrelated themes: 1) the governance of climate change in urban areas; 2) urbanization and the dynamics of energy transitions; and 3) barriers to the implementation of climate change action.

The first strand of her research focuses on who governs climate change in urban areas and how. For example, she has mapped her contributions to the field in the 2017 article “Urban Governance and the Politics of Climate Change” (in World Development) in relation to both normative and critical strands of thinking about urban governance for climate change. Vanesa has also made direct contributions to international policy, for example, as a lead chapter author for UN-Habitat’s 2016 World Cities Report.

The second strand of her research focuses on the dynamics of energy transition. Following her engagement with urban infrastructure as a means to understand climate change policy, she is developing a feminist neo-materialist perspective on the governance of energy transitions. Vanesa has imagined the concept of urban energy landscapes as spatial arrangements of cultural practices and artefacts that reflect the coevolution of socio-economic, technological, and ecological systems. This conception challenges broadly accepted notions of energy landscapes as the product of public perceptions of energy developments. A recent paper on “Energy landscapes and urban trajectories towards sustainability” (in Energy Policy) provides an overview of her work in this area.

The third area of her research focuses on developing practical ways to activate urban transformations and deliver climate action in practice. An example of this work is her research on participatory planning for climate change. At the moment, Vanesa is engaged in a series of activities with local partners in Mozambique to rethink sustainable energy access in urban areas. An overview of her efforts to rethink sustainable energy access in an urbanization context is presented in a recent collective paper “Universal access to sustainable energy in urban areas” (in Nature Energy).

I work in the broad field of International Political Economy. My interests include the politics of economic ideas and knowledge, the political economy of change following financial and economic crises, the politics of macroeconomic policy and financial governance, financial sector power, alternative forms of financial and monetary organization, NGO campaigning on these issues, and the future of the global financial and monetary system.

I use an ecofeminist lens to understand global environmental change and am particularly interested in the global politics of climate change, climate activism and strategies of resistance in spaces of global environmental governance, such as the UNFCCC. I am currently pursuing two research projects. The first is working to conceptualise a theory of intersectionality that has the capacity to encompass the natural world. The second is exploring the concept of ecofeminist ‘parenting’ seeking to envision truly green feminist society.

Christina's research interests include political economy, multi-level governance and local policy implementation in the People’s Republic of China. Using these analytical frameworks as a lens, she has particularly conducted research on cultural heritage politics and the politics of demographic ageing in contemporary China.

Dr Maags is currently working on two major research projects:

Political Economy of Elder Care in China

This project examines the development of elder care services across China. It compares how differences in multi-level governance across space result in diverging approaches to elder care service development in urban and rural areas and by extension diversity in local elder care service industries.

Intangible Heritage, the Market & the Stat

This project examines the political economy underlying the marketization of intangible cultural heritage in the tourism and creative industries in China, particularly focusing on how these affect cultural practitioners.

In her research, Dr Maags pays particular attention to interactions and interdependencies across global, national and local scales.

My work lies at the intersection of architecture and urbanism, driven by a commitment to contribute to the creation of more just and sustainable urban futures. I explore themes of urban governance, democracy, and participation, with a particular focus on co-production in architecture and urban design.

My main interest is in community-led design and planning processes, especially in contested and vulnerable urban areas. This research is shaped by a longstanding interest in how knowledge systems can promote fairer ways to represent, envision, and transform cities, paying close attention to issues of power, agency, and voice in the generation of urban knowledge.

My research is collaborative and practice-led, conducted in partnership with stakeholders, with reflective practice being a vital component of my approach.

Associate Dean Education

Fraser joined Sheffield University Management School in 2018, as Professor and Chair in Marketing. Fraser has received research funding from numerous external businesses or organisations as well as research councils such as the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (ESPRC), the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and has won prizes globally for his research and contribution to practice. In 2017, he was awarded the prestigious Emerald Citations of Excellence Award for an article on electronic word of mouth. Fraser’s research is habitually interdisciplinary; with his current focus on sustainability, hedonic consumption, digital marketing, branding, entrepreneurship and co-creativity. He has recently been chair of the prestigious Academy of Marketing annual conference and co-chair the Global Branding conference held at Newcastle in 2018. Prior to joining Sheffield University Management School Fraser was Professor of Strategic Marketing Management at Newcastle Business School and also held roles as Associate Pro Vice Chancellor of Strategic Planning and Engagement, Associate Dean of Business and Engagement and Head of Corporate Development for the Faculty of Business and Law at the Faculty of Business and Law.

Fraser also has over ten years of practitioner experience, holding senior management and leadership positions globally. While working in industry, Fraser has assisted over 250 businesses in more than 60 countries to implement successful start-up, commercialisation, business expansion, marketing, branding, strategic planning and new product/service introduction strategies in industry sectors that vary from education to renewable energy, engineering, agri-food and graphene. His clients range from SMEs to MNEs and have included Nestlé, Royal Numico, Parker, Thomas Swan, Bank of Montana, Sage, UKTI, Nexus and Greggs, plus organisations such as the World Bank, USDA, and EU. Fraser has also held academic positions at Lincoln University (New Zealand); Newcastle University (UK); Northumbria University (UK), Macquarie University (Australia) the University of Montana (US), and Peter the Great St Petersburg University (Russia).

Laura joined the Department in December 2021 as a Lecturer in Criminology. Her research interests sit at the intersections of gender, race, migration, and processes of criminalisation. She often explores these issues within the context of the sex industry.

Before joining the University of Sheffield, Laura was a Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Salford and was Programme Leader for three undergraduate degrees. She has also worked as a Teaching Fellow and Research Assistant at the University of Leeds, where she completed her university-funded PhD on the Governance of Sex Trafficking in England and Wales in 2016.

Laura’s work is social justice oriented. She works closely with sex worker-led and voluntary sector organisations in support of the global movement for sex workers’ rights. Laura is also Co-Chair of the Sex Work Research Hub, and sits on the steering committee for the Northern Police Monitoring Project. She is co-author of Anti-Racist Scholar-Activism (with Remi Joseph-Salisbury) which was published by Manchester University Press in November 2021

Research interests

My broad research interests centre on comparative processes of urban development and change in cities of the global South, and especially Africa. I focus particularly on the politics and political economy of urban change, for example with regard to urban land and transportation, infrastructure and housing – and I am interested both in the investment and governance dynamics in these sectors, and how city-dwellers experience and contest these changes. I also have a growing interest in the experiences of refugees and displaced people in cities, both within the global South and in the UK. I have conducted research in Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, Tanzania and Kenya, but am open to supervising PhDs focusing on any national context (as well as comparative work). My recent and current research has focused on urban-rural migration in Africa and its impacts on conflict and peace-building, infrastructure and housing in African urban peripheries, and Chinese investments in Africa and the consequences for urban development and socioeconomic inclusion.

Research Interests 

I research how data and evidence work in practice, looking at particular policy issues, such as well-being, loneliness, inequality and class. My research focuses on the role of knowledge and information in social change and revealing the positive and negative effects of practices assumed benevolent and robust. I am particularly interested in projects which research data, tech, knowledge and policy issues in the creative and cultural industries, Higher Education, local or national governance, as well as social and cultural policy more generally. 

Potential Projects

• How data ‘work’ - in context: everyday data practices in organisations

• People’s perceptions and experiences of data practices 

• Media representations of data practices and processes 

• Issues related to processes of categorisation, i.e. census, demographic data or processes, such as segmentation

• History and philosophy of social science 

• Research on, in, or with, the cultural sector - particularly evaluation of projects with a social impact aim

• Critical inequality research

• Critical well-being research 

• Critical policy studies (document analysis, discourse analysis, historical analyses)

• Cultural and social policy studies

Research interests

The general focus of my research pertains to the unravelling of the socio-technical aspects of IS innovations and emerging technologies, with a keen eye on the power dynamics among various stakeholders, such as citizens, businesses, local governments, and the state. Beyond examining IS research at the individual and organisational levels, I delve into its manifestation in urban and regional contexts. My particular interest lies in understanding and scrutinising radical innovations through a critical perspective. This endeavour has encompassed critical appraisals of prevailing smart city innovations, digital platforms, and urban AI and autonomous systems. In these empirical domains, my research aims to uncover the benefits that communities and citizens derive from these technological initiatives. More recently, I have shifted my focus towards urban AI, autonomous systems, and urban robotics, investigating issues of digital rights, governmentality, digital citizenship, and the discursive practices that shape the narratives of AI in urbanism.

PhD supervision

I am particularly interested in supervising PhD candidates in the following areas:

- Power dynamics in smart city governance and governmentality

- Critical research around urban AI, autonomous systems, and robotics

- Social value creation in platform cooperativism and grassroots digital innovations.

- Exploring digital inequality, digital rights, digital citizenship within digital platforms.