Holly Birkett

Dr Holly Birkett is a Senior Lecturer in Organisational Studies at the Department of Management, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. She is Director of the Work Inclusivity Research Centre (WIRC) and Co-Director of the Equal Parenting Project, with a strong focus on careers, work inclusion, and identity. She is an Academic Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) and contributes to public policy through the Government Equalities Office WAGE programme.

• PhD in Organisation Studies, Warwick Business School, 2011
• MA in Organisation Studies, Warwick Business School, 2007
• BA (Hons) in Politics, Sheffield University, 2000
• MCIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel Development)

Her research centers on careers and career transitions, with a particular emphasis on parental leave policies, flexible working, fatherhood in the workplace, retirement, and social mobility. She employs qualitative and critical methodologies to explore how identity, policy, and organizational culture shape work experiences. Her work bridges academic research and real-world impact, influencing corporate and governmental policies on inclusivity.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent trend in examining gender equity, work-life integration, and the future of work, particularly in the context of the pandemic. Themes include flexible working, childcare distribution, shared parental leave, and the experiences of working fathers. Her research combines sociological insight with practical policy recommendations, often co-authored with experts like Helen Chung and Susan Forbes.

Dr Birkett has contributed to influential policy reports for the Government Equalities Office and the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission. Her work has been featured in major media outlets including The Guardian, The Conversation, and D&I Leaders, highlighting her role as a public intellectual in workplace inclusivity.

She supervises PhD students interested in careers, parenting policies, retirement, and qualitative research. She has previously taught modules in Organisation Studies, Organisational Behaviour, and Human Resource Management at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Her leadership in the Work Inclusivity Research Centre and the Equal Parenting Project underscores her commitment to driving organizational change.

Dr Birkett founded the Fathers in the Workplace Toolkit and the Working Dads Employer Awards, and leads the longitudinal Flexible Working and Future of Work Project. These initiatives reflect her applied research approach and dedication to transforming workplace cultures to support gender equality and inclusive practices.