Debbie Kelly

Debbie Kelly is a Senior Lecturer in Public Relations at the Business School of Manchester Metropolitan University. She serves as Programme Leader for the Retail Leadership Degree Apprenticeship and teaches units including Public Relations Principles and Practice, Strategic Communications, and Persuasive Writing. Holding a BA (Hons) and FHEA status, her expertise bridges academic and industry, with over a decade in PR education and prior roles in broadcast journalism (BBC North), in-house PR at BBC, First Leisure, and local government, alongside agency experience at Leedex PR and J. Walter Thompson.

Her teaching emphasizes real-world applications, informed by her part-time PR consultancy work advising SMEs. She regularly contributes to BBC Radio Manchester discussions and serves as a trained civil celebrant, leveraging skills akin to PR in officiating weddings. Research interests focus on PR strategy, communications education, and practical campaign implementation.

Her academic work includes conference papers exploring PR pedagogy and industry-relevant curricula. She actively integrates professional experience into teaching to enhance student employability in dynamic marketing environments.