Gillian Martin

Gillian Martin serves as Senior Economist at the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre within the Ulster University Business School, conducting economic and policy research since joining in 2019. Her work focuses on firm-level analysis and Northern Ireland's economic modeling, while supporting Business School teaching modules through her Fellowship in the Higher Education Academy.

Her academic credentials include:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice (Ulster University, 2022)
• MA in Global Security and Borders (Queen's University Belfast, 2019)
• BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (Queen's University Belfast, 2016)

Research interests center on labor economics and regional policy, with expertise in SME competitiveness, productivity measurement, workforce health, and automation impacts. Her methodology combines economic modeling with policy analysis to address Northern Ireland's unique challenges, particularly in business dynamism and management training effectiveness.

Recent publications (2023-2024) reveal a concentrated focus on actionable economic intelligence for Northern Ireland, spanning sickness absence trends, innovation ecosystems, and mid-sized business resilience. These works consistently bridge academic rigor with practical policy applications through commissioned reports.

Professional recognition includes:

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

She actively secures research funding, notably leading a 2025-2026 Health and Social Care R&D Division project quantifying workforce instability costs in children's social services, while contributing to numerous economic briefing papers for regional stakeholders.

As a core member of the Economic Policy Centre, she develops Northern Ireland's economic forecasting models and participates in cross-institutional collaborations focused on sustainable regional development.