Emma Surman

Dr Emma Surman is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing at the Department of Marketing, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. She joined the university in 2019, having previously held positions at Keele University and the University of Warwick. Her research is centered on consumer culture, critical marketing, and ethical and sustainable consumption, with a strong focus on food-related practices.

• PhD, Keele University, UK
• Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Keele University, UK
• Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods in the Social Sciences, Keele University, UK

Emma Surman's research explores the intersections of consumption, ethics, and community, particularly in the context of food. Her work investigates food poverty, communal eating, school gardens, and food swapping through interdisciplinary, interpretive, and ethnographic methods. She has led projects funded by the EPSRC, ESRC, and AHRC, often in collaboration with community groups, charities, and local government. Her teaching includes courses on 'Marketing and Society' and 'Marketing and Globalisation' at undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive levels.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent focus on responsible marketing, consumer well-being, and community engagement. Themes across her work include ethical consumption, participatory methodologies, and the social dimensions of food systems. She is particularly interested in vulnerable consumers and marketplace exclusion, advocating for inclusive and compassionate market practices.

Emma serves as an Associate Editor for the journal Gender, Work and Organization and actively reviews for multiple academic journals. She is committed to interdisciplinary collaboration and has contributed to major research companions and policy reports on responsible business and marketing.

She supervises research in areas such as critical marketing, ethical and sustainable consumption, food production-consumption links, and participatory research methods. Her work is supported by grants from major UK research councils, reflecting its societal relevance and academic rigor. She is also involved in initiatives promoting responsible business education at the University of Birmingham.

Emma Surman is actively engaged in research, teaching, and service, contributing to a growing body of scholarship that challenges conventional marketing paradigms and promotes social justice and sustainability in consumer practices.