Carole Murphy

Dr. Carole Murphy is a Professor of Sociology and Applied Research at St Mary’s University and Director of the Bakhita Centre for Research on Slavery, Exploitation and Abuse. Her work focuses on modern slavery, human trafficking, exploitation, and abuse, with an emphasis on survivor support and policy impact. She leads initiatives to train practitioners and empower survivors as experts. Her research intersects with social problems, inequalities, addiction, and mental health.

Key areas of supervision include modern slavery, human trafficking, gender-based violence, and addiction. She has guided PhD projects on topics such as legal frameworks in Nigeria, child exploitation in the Philippines, and public opinion on migration in the UK. Her recent publications explore survivor pathways, policy gaps, and media representations of trafficking.

• Advisory Roles: Member of the Project Executive Board for the “Human Trafficking and Exploitation in Ireland” project (2018–2021), Trustee of Women at the Well (2016–2023).
• Consultancy: Evaluated services like Caritas Bakhita House and contributed to EUROPOL research on policing trafficking.

Dr. Murphy’s work bridges academia and practice, advocating for survivor-centered approaches and systemic change through policy and training programs.