Jacqueline Kirk

Dr. Jacqueline Kirk serves as Associate Professor of Sustainable Business in the Department of Management at Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University (NTU), where she is a core member of the Responsible and Sustainable Business (RSB) Lab. Her academic career spans positions at Loughborough University, the University of Nottingham, and the University of Leicester, with doctoral research completed at Nottingham's International Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (ICCSR).

Her educational background includes:

• PhD from University of Nottingham's ICCSR
• Alumnus status at University of Leeds

Dr. Kirk specializes in narratives of value within organizational decision-making, focusing on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), ESG frameworks, and behavioral science applications for net zero transitions. Her research examines how value narratives translate into responsible business practices across contexts including climate policy, fracking controversies, and alternative fuel vehicles, with recent work centered on just transition pathways to carbon neutrality.

Her scholarly output in journals like Organization Studies and Environmental Politics reveals consistent exploration of corporate-environmental policy interfaces, particularly in energy transitions. Publications demonstrate evolving focus from early alternative vehicle markets to contemporary net zero behavioral science, maintaining critical analysis of power dynamics in sustainability governance.

Her recognition includes:

• ESRC/BEIS Policy Fellowship with UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
• Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy

Dr. Kirk secured significant research funding through an 18-month ESRC Policy Fellowship, during which she embedded with government policymakers and obtained additional fieldwork funding. Her collaborative projects bridge academic research with evidence-based policy design, frequently involving interdisciplinary teams addressing sustainability implementation challenges.

Within the RSB Lab, Dr. Kirk contributes to research on sustainable business model innovation and responsible leadership practices. The lab operates as an interdisciplinary hub connecting academic rigor with real-world business applications through partnerships with industry, government agencies, and civil society organizations focused on tangible sustainability solutions.