Luke Kelleher

Dr Luke Kelleher is an Associate Professor in Environmental Policy at University College Dublin (UCD), working within the UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy. He is a member of the UCD Environmental Policy Group, a research-intensive faculty group central to national and international debates and policy action in environmental policy. Kelleher also serves as a Principal Investigator in the UCD Earth Institute and is a member of both BiOrbic, the National Bioeconomy Research Centre funded by Science Foundation Ireland, and the UCD Centre for Irish Towns.

Dr Kelleher holds a BA and PhD from Queen's University Belfast, an MSc from the University of Ulster, and a UCD Professional Certificate in Creativity and Innovation for Education. Prior to joining UCD, he was a lead researcher at the University of Hertfordshire in its high-impact transport evaluation group. Before his academic career, he gained nearly 10 years of experience in the public service, including roles in local government, the Land Registers of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Water Service, and the global consulting firm RPS Group.

Dr Kelleher's research focuses on two main areas: transport policy and environmental performance, and bioeconomy policy. His work applies strong theoretical and methodological expertise in spatial analysis, policy analysis and evaluation, stated preference techniques, and demand-side policy instruments. His research has been published in prestigious journals such as Energy Policy, Atmospheric Environment, Environment and Planning B, and Transport Research Part A, and presented at leading conferences including the World Conference on Transport Research and Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting.

Analysis of Dr Kelleher's recent publications reveals a strong focus on the bioeconomy and its policy coherence, transport poverty, and just transition frameworks. His work often employs spatial analysis methodologies to address environmental policy challenges, with a particular emphasis on creating practical tools for policymakers. There's a clear trajectory showing increasing focus on the bioeconomy in his more recent work, while maintaining strong connections to transport policy and environmental justice issues.

Dr Kelleher has secured research funding from multiple prestigious sources including the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Northern Ireland Department of Education (DENI), Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI). Current projects include "Enable-BIO Project" funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, "Aerodynamic Design and CFD Analysis of Drag Reducing Appendable Devices for Large Ground Vehicles" funded by Science Foundation Ireland, and "Just Transition for Agriculture in the Circular Bioeconomy" (JusTACE) also funded by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Dr Kelleher actively supervises PhD students and contributes to multiple educational programs including the BSc (City Planning & Environmental Policy), MRUP, MSc (Environmental Policy), the Graduate Diploma Bioeconomy with Business, and the BSc in Transport City Planning and Environmental Policy at Chang'an University. His teaching philosophy emphasizes active participation, critical analysis, and the development of informed judgment.

Dr Kelleher maintains strong connections with policy makers at multiple levels, having provided expert advice to the European Commission, UK Department of Transport, Department of Education (DENI), Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM), Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), and various city councils. He has been particularly active in the Heritage Council led Collaborative Town Centre Health Check Programme since 2016.