Max Hope

Dr Max Hope is a senior academic and Course Director for postgraduate planning and housing programs at Leeds Beckett University, within the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing. With over 30 years of teaching experience, he leads the MA Town & Regional Planning, MA Housing, Regeneration and Urban Management, Degree Apprenticeship Chartered Town Planning (L5 and L7), and Master of Planning programs.

His research focuses on disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and community-led sustainable development. He has been Principal or Co-Investigator on eight UKRI-funded projects totaling over £18 million in grants, including the major 'Tomorrows Cities: Urban Disaster Risk Hub' led by the University of Edinburgh. This five-year, £17.6M project develops inclusive tools combining participatory planning with risk modeling in Global South cities.

Max has supervised eight PhD students and published on transformative learning, fieldwork in geography, and interdisciplinary teaching. He teaches core modules such as Urban Futures, Natural Hazard Management & Climate Change Adaptation, and Planning for Environmental Sustainability.

His scientific recognition includes being a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Max has secured substantial research funding and currently manages a large interdisciplinary project with over 60 international partners. He emphasizes community engagement and equity in urban planning, particularly empowering vulnerable populations in the Global South. His work bridges research, pedagogy, and policy impact.

He is based at Northern Terrace, City Campus, Leeds, and is actively contributing to both academic and professional advancements in urban sustainability and resilience.