Jane Ali-Knight

Jane Ali-Knight is a Professor in Festival and Event Management at Edinburgh Napier University's Business School and a Visiting Research Professor at Curtin University, Perth. She leads the festival and event subject group and is actively engaged in international lecturing and professional training. Her affiliations include the Tourism Research Centre and roles in professional organizations such as BAFA, Without Walls, Women in Tourism, and Hidden Door Festival.

Research interests focus on festivals and events, sustainability, leadership, edutainment, audience development, and climate resilience. Her work bridges academic rigor and practical application, often addressing the socio-cultural and environmental impacts of festivals. She emphasizes innovation, particularly in post-pandemic recovery and sustainable event management.

The publication trends show a strong emphasis on sustainability, resilience, and educational aspects of festivals. Her recent work includes practical toolkits, policy reports, and scholarly books, reflecting a blend of academic and applied outputs across event governance, climate action, audience engagement, and edutainment.

Scientific awards and honors:

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
• Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (RSA)

Advising and grants: She has supervised multiple PhD students as Director of Studies and Second Supervisor. Her funded projects include:

• Festival UK* 2022 (£5,175, DCMS)
• Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival Research Project (£29,000)
• Qatar National Research Fund project on green living and the World Cup (£40,512)

These projects highlight her expertise in cultural events, stakeholder analysis, and sustainability.

Labs and teams: She is a core member of the Tourism Research Centre at Edinburgh Napier and collaborates closely with researchers like Gary Kerr and Christopher Barnes. She contributes to international training initiatives, including the British Council’s Festival Academy.