Irene Hardill

Professor Irene Hardill is a Professor of Public Policy at Northumbria University since 2010, previously holding a professorial role at Nottingham Trent University's Graduate School. Her expertise lies in volunteering, community sector collaboration, and co-producing knowledge. She leads research on mobilizing voluntary action during crises like the pandemic and methodological innovation in policy analysis. Her work has been supported by ESRC, the British Academy, and international bodies.

Education: She holds a PhD in Geography from 1980. Her research spans work dynamics, unpaid labor, and governance structures. Recent publications focus on reimagining social contracts, adversarial co-production, and pandemic-era voluntary sector mobilization.

Research Interests: Irene investigates policy innovation, governance, and societal structures through interdisciplinary lenses. Her work emphasizes evidence-based policymaking, equitable futures, and marginalized community inclusion. Notable projects include evaluating pandemic response strategies and advocating for systemic social reforms inspired by the Beveridge Report.

Grants & Collaborations: Managed ESRC-funded projects on methodological innovation, pandemic mobilization, and work dynamics. Partnered with Age UK, Leverhulme Trust, and French Government initiatives. Her research bridges academic rigor with real-world policy impact.

Labs/Teams: Engaged in multi-disciplinary teams studying governance, social policy, and community resilience. Collaborates with international scholars on pandemic recovery and co-production frameworks.