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Thomas Cooney serves as Professor of Entrepreneurship at Technological University Dublin and Director of the Institute for Minority Entrepreneurship. He holds adjunct appointments at the University of Turku (Finland) and Universidad Panamericana (Mexico), alongside former leadership roles as President of the International Council for Small Business (2012-13) and European Council for Small Business (2009-11). His international influence extends through advisory positions with governments, the European Commission, and OECD. Professor Cooney's research centers on entrepreneurship among underrepresented groups, with specialization in minority, immigrant, and rural entrepreneurship. His work investigates how cultural factors, transnational networks, and enclave dynamics shape entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly examining immigrant communities in Western contexts and rural women in Africa. Recent studies address pandemic impacts on diaspora entrepreneurs and skill development initiatives in Uganda. Analysis of his 2019-2023 publications reveals consistent focus on marginalized entrepreneurs across diverse geographical settings. Methodologically, his work blends qualitative approaches with action research, often examining policy implications for inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems. Key thematic threads include transnational opportunity formation, cultural adaptation challenges, and community-based support systems. His distinguished recognition includes: EntreComp Champion (European Commission) Fellow of the European Council for Small Business Wilford L. White Fellow (Global Award) Honorary Life Member of SEAANZ Professor Cooney actively bridges academia and practice through policy advisory work with international organizations and directorships in four enterprises. His community engagement extends to developing frameworks for university-community partnerships that expand entrepreneurial opportunities to excluded populations. He leads the Institute for Minority Entrepreneurship at TU Dublin, driving research initiatives focused on systemic barriers and support mechanisms for minority entrepreneurs within Ireland's economic landscape.

• Entrepreneurship
• Minority Entrepreneurship
• Immigrant Entrepreneurship
• +2 more

Fiona Murphy is a socio-cultural anthropologist and academic staff member at Dublin City University's School of Applied Language & Intercultural Studies (SALIS). She holds the role of Programme Chair for the Master's in Refugee Integration and specializes in Indigenous politics, refugee mobility, sustainability, and business/design anthropology. Her research explores forced displacement, trauma, memory, and reconciliation, with fieldwork in Australia, Ireland, the UK, and Turkey. She has contributed to policy dialogues through roles like Secretary of the Anthropological Association of Ireland and member of the European Association of Anthropologists' executive committee. Research interests span displacement studies, including Stolen Generations reconciliation and asylum seeker integration. She advocates for creative and public anthropology, experimenting with ethnographic storytelling and multimedia formats. Her work intersects with business anthropology, exploring sustainable consumption and CSR in neoliberal contexts. Education: Doctorate in Anthropology (details not specified in text) Professional Roles: Member of EASA Executive Committee (2021-2023) Co-ordinator of Peace and Conflict Anthropology Network (EASA) Vice-Chair of Anthropological Association of Ireland (until 2020) Awards include the 2019 Vice Chancellor's Research Prize for collaborative work on displacement narratives. She actively engages in public scholarship through blogs (e.g., Allegra Lab), podcasts, and creative outputs like short stories (e.g., Earl Grey ). Teaching focuses on decolonizing pedagogy and interdisciplinary approaches to displacement studies, having supervised 7 PhD candidates and taught across multiple universities. Her research outputs bridge academic and creative domains, emphasizing empathy and dialogue in addressing displacement crises. Current projects include co-editing A Collection of Creative Anthropologies and exploring refugee food initiatives as sites of solidarity.

• Forced Displacement Studies
• Refugee Integration
• Indigenous Politics
• +4 more

Niamh Moore Cherry is a Full Professor and College Principal at the College of Social Sciences and Law, University College Dublin (UCD) , with an Honorary Professorship at the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London . She has held leadership roles including Deputy Principal and Vice-Principal for Teaching and Learning, and leads a research group on Cities, Governance, and Sustainability. BA and PhD in Geography from University College Dublin Principal Fellow, Advance HE (formerly UK Higher Education Academy), 2017 Member, National Economic and Social Council (NESC), appointed by the Irish Taoiseach Chair, International Geographical Congress 2024, Dublin Former President, Geographical Society of Ireland Her research focuses on urban governance, metropolitanisation, sustainability, and heritage . She examines the political and spatial dynamics of urban redevelopment, with case studies in Dublin, London, Nanjing, and Warsaw. Her work bridges academic research and policy, contributing to Ireland’s National Planning Framework and the UK2070 Commission. Recent publications explore just transitions, smart city governance, urban precarity, and the role of green spaces in mental health. Her recent articles reveal a strong thematic focus on spatial justice, policy engagement, and community-led urban development . She emphasizes co-creation, lived experience, and the need for governance innovation to address socio-spatial inequalities. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates geography, planning, and public policy. Principal Fellowship, Advance HE Campus Engage Community Engaged Learning Exemplar UCD College of Social Sciences and Law Teaching Excellence Award University Teaching Excellence Award Honorary Professor, Bartlett School of Planning, UCL Aurora Programme Leadership Participant She has led grant-funded projects on sustainable urban mobility, metropolitan governance, and urban greening. She mentors students through peer mentoring programs and has promoted student-staff partnerships in curriculum design. She teaches modules such as Cities in a Global World , International Urban Fieldwork , and Research Design . She leads the Cities, Governance and Sustainability research group and is active in professional networks including the IGU Urban Commission , Royal Geographical Society , and editorial boards of Irish Geography and Journal of Geography in Higher Education .

• Urban Governance
• Metropolitanisation
• Urban and Regional Development
• +12 more