Marisa McVey

Dr Marisa McVey is a Lecturer in Law at Queen's University Belfast and a Fellow of the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice. She holds a LLB in Law and Politics and a LLM in Business and Human Rights (both from QUB), MRes in Management/Business and a PhD in Management (University of St Andrews). Her previous experience includes postdoctoral fellowships at both the University of St Andrews and Aston Law School, in addition to working at a national human rights institution on policy and research.

Her educational background includes:

• LLB in Law and Politics from Queen's University Belfast
• LLM in Business and Human Rights from Queen's University Belfast
• MRes in Management/Business
• PhD in Management from University of St Andrews

Dr McVey's expertise lies at the intersection of business and human rights. Her research critically examines current and potential mechanisms of corporate accountability for human and environmental rights, and imagines alternatives for a just transition to a sustainable and equitable society. She is currently working on projects related to human rights due diligence (HRDD) practices, emerging technologies and human rights, and corporate liability for climate change and environmental injustice. Other projects include applying a feminist lens to business and human rights, and interrogating the commodification of health and wellness practices by corporations.

Her recent scholarly output demonstrates a clear trend toward examining business and human rights in practical contexts, with a particular focus on implementation challenges. She has published extensively on human rights due diligence mechanisms, corporate accountability for climate change, and the practical application of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in various jurisdictions including Northern Ireland and Scotland. Her work often bridges academic research with practical policy implementation.

Dr McVey has received recognition for her scholarly contributions:

• Faculty Research Initiative Funding (2024)

Dr McVey actively engages with students and practitioners through her role as Director of the Exploring Law Forum (ELF) at QUB Law School, which empowers students to think creatively and critically about the law. She has secured research funding for projects including the NI Business Human Rights Index and has collaborated with numerous organizations including NGOs, civil society groups, stewardship organizations, and regulators. Her research impact extends beyond academia through authorship of reports, policy briefings, blogs, and online articles aimed at practitioners and the public sphere.

She is actively involved with several research networks and professional organizations including the MAGGI Research Group at the Max Planck Institute, the Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action at QUB, the Centre For Social and Environmental Accounting Research, the Global Business and Human Rights Scholars Association, the Socio-Legal Scholars Association, the Society of Legal Scholars, and the Global Network for Human Rights and the Environment.