Biography
I am an educator and researcher with over 20 years experience working in academia and 10 years in full time academic study in the areas of art, design, management, fashion and textiles and education. My attention, reflected in everything whether it is leadership, research projects, working with industry, teaching or public engagement activities, is always around the philosophy that the ‘earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need but not any man’s greed’. (Mahatma Gandhi) My research is primarily the creation and use of sustainable, indigenous and recycled materials, ‘labours of love’ and ‘artisanal thinking’ and how these can be applied to enterprise and innovation. I pursue authentic behaviour, process and policy changes and the potential for commercial development as success rather that my research existing as a ‘theory’ without meaningful impact. In my teaching, management and leadership, I employ methods to enable sovereignty and individual, unique perspectives to be acknowledged. The successes I have experienced are with companies, institutions and individuals who have recognised and encompassed this towards increased collaboration, problem solving, and the breakthrough ideas that have driven genuine success and growth.
Since working in academia I have won considerable external funding for my research and have worked with members of staff in the schools of Advanced Materials, Tourism, Microbiology, Music and Computing, utilising a number of different methodologies, as appropriate to the disciplines. I am widely published, am regular speaker at conferences and public engagement events and have supervised numerous PhDs to completion. From joining Edinburgh Napier University I was promoted to Reader, was the first member of staff to win funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and led Design, Photography and Advertising to be returned in the Research Excellence Framework for the first time in 2021. In addition to the many Interface Innovation Vouchers I have led, working with Scottish SMEs and micro businesses, I have undertaken externally funded projects working with Scottish industrial partners, heritage organisations and arts groups. These include Lenzing, the Scottish Leather Group, Bute Fabrics, Begg and Co, Calzeat, Cellucomp, Historic Environment Scotland, West Lothian Heritage Services and Applied Arts Scotland.
Currently my research is considering the potential of ‘wool’ (and ‘domestic fibre art’ making processes often created in women’s craft collectives) as an undervalued material output that can be used for sustainable innovation, looking at circumstances in Scotland, India and Nordic countries. In addition to this, as a cross disciplinary research group, we are exploring the possibilities of recycled wet suits and surf boards to create new material and products and engage tourists, locals and young people with environmental issues and wellbeing.