Louise Reader

Dr. Louise Reader is a Senior Lecturer in Business at the University of Northampton, affiliated with the Strategy and International Business department within the Northampton Business School. She contributes to the Centre for Sustainable Business Practices and is actively involved in research, knowledge exchange, and enterprise initiatives. Her professional roles include serving as an External Examiner at Anglia Ruskin University (2016–2020) and the University of Huddersfield (2019–2024), and as a Committee Member on the British Standards Institution (BSI) Risk Committee since 2017.

Education:

• PhD (ongoing): The role of community influences on socially responsible activity within SMEs
• BA (Hons) Business and Management, University of Northampton (2009–2010)

Her research centers on socio-technical challenges in cybersecurity, focusing on cyber-risk, resilience, and the strategic integration of artificial intelligence in organizations, with particular attention to the psychology of decision-making. She also investigates social responsibility and community impact in SMEs, aligning her work with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Louise has contributed to the development of British Standard BS31111 and the review of ISO standards related to cyber risk management.

The two most recent research articles (both from 2016) reflect a consistent focus on cyber-resilient and sustainable SMEs, particularly examining the value added by IT resellers. These works highlight interdisciplinary themes spanning cybersecurity, socio-technical systems, and sustainable business practices.

Scientific Recognition and Service:

Louise has a strong record in curriculum innovation, having developed the BA (Hons) Business Management programme with pathway options, which became the university's highest-enrolling undergraduate course from 2019 to 2024. She led the validation of four new degree apprenticeships (2025) and designed applied learning modules involving live client projects. She has secured internal funding through the Big Ideas Fund 2019 for the Pluswipes project, which focused on people development, IT services, and policy development. She is currently accepting PhD students and is open to academic and practitioner collaborations.

She is affiliated with the Centre for Sustainable Business Practices and has engaged in knowledge exchange activities, including business training and awareness programs for SMEs on GDPR and cyber risk management. Her work bridges academic research and practical enterprise support, emphasizing community impact and sustainable business models.