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Biography I am currently Professor of Urban Sustainability and Director of the Environmental Research & Innovation Centre at the University of Salford. Prior to this, I led programmes in the division of Geography and Environmental Management, alongside other leadership roles, such as a REF Impact Case Study lead for our recent submission. Before joining Salford in 2013, I was a Research Fellow in Birmingham on the UK National Ecosystem Follow-On project, working alongside DEFRA, Natural England, the Environment Agency and others to explore the mainstreaming of the ecosystem approach concept.

My work broadly surrounds exploring ways of enabling sustainability within cities, from radical greening initiatives, to urban agriculture, guerrilla gardening and beyond. I have led and been involved in projects in the likes of Africa, North America, Europe and across the UK. Such funding has been obtained via charities, industrial partners, research councils and global bodies.

Stemming from this work, I have keynoted at a wide variety of major global events, such as the international Society of City and Regional Planners Congress in South Africa, to a UNESCO event in Oregon, USA and other keynotes in the likes of France, Slovakia, The Netherlands and across the UK. I have also acted as a regular media commentator in the likes of the British and global presses, alongside appearing in documentaries on climate change and other forms of media. My work also sees me acting as a senior editor on several journals (e.g. Taylor & Francis' Cogent OA Geography and Climate Interactions), to undertaking external advisory roles for community bodies, to climate change agencies and beyond.

Alongside my academic roles, I hold several non-academic positions with organisations, from a Trustee of Social Farms & Gardens and Chair of their Academic Working Group, to a member of a number of other similar organisations and policy bodies. I also hold several visiting researcher positions in the likes of Europe, Africa and North America. This includes being a Visiting Professor at the Centre for Social Responsibility at Edge Hill University, to visiting researcher posts at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague and the Toronto-based Carrot City Research Group.

I supervise a wide range of PGRs from around the world who focus on topics ranging from urban agriculture to radical greening, innovations in public health, environmental impact, flood mitigation and beyond. My PhD students include recent graduates, to lecturers from other institutions and directors of major organisations, both at a national and international level. I welcome PGR applications which focus on my areas of research around the broad field of urban sustainability studies.
Research Interests Sustainable Cities

Green Infrastructure

Urban Agriculture

City Farming

Urban Sustainability
PhD Supervision Availability Yes
PhD Topics Sustainable Cities

Green Infrastructure

Urban Agriculture

City Farming

Urban Sustainability

This person contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:

SDG 1 - No Poverty

End poverty in all its forms everywhere

SDG 2 - Zero Hunger

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-Being

Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

SDG 5 - Gender Equality

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities

Reduce inequality within and among countries

SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

SDG 13 - Climate Action

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

SDG 15 - Life on Land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and strong institutions

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development