Richard Hazenberg

Professor Richard Hazenberg (BA MA PhD) serves as the Institute Director of the Institute for Social Innovation and Impact (ISII) at the University of Northampton's Centre for Sustainable Futures. He actively contributes to international and national government policy through papers, conferences, and roundtable meetings with organizations including the European Commission, OECD, Cabinet Office, and HM Treasury. As an Associate Editor for both the Social Enterprise Journal and Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, he plays a significant role in academic publishing within his field.

His research spans social innovation, social entrepreneurship, social finance, public service innovation, social ecosystems, and social impact measurement, with particular focus on UK social sciences, social enterprise, and sustainable development. Professor Hazenberg's work significantly contributes to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to quality education, reduced inequalities, and sustainable communities.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on practical applications of social innovation across diverse contexts including gender equality initiatives in Indonesia, social enterprise resilience during the pandemic, violence prevention in educational settings, and community impact assessment for organizations serving visually impaired individuals. His research demonstrates interdisciplinary approaches combining social sciences with practical policy implementation.

• Social Enterprise Journal Highly Commended Paper (2015)
• Social Enterprise Journal Outstanding Reviewer Award (2018)

Professor Hazenberg actively supervises doctoral students including Emma Etuk (nursing education), Tuyen Thanh Le (UNESCO Biosphere Reserves), and Claire Renwick (social enterprise ecosystems). His current research portfolio includes 49 projects totaling over 165 research outputs, with significant funding from charitable, government, and international sources. He leads initiatives such as the Eco-Creative Pedagogies project, Benin Social Impact research, and the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls program in Vietnam.

His work extends to multiple labs and research teams including collaborations with Paterson-Young, Karlidag-Dennis, and other international researchers across projects focused on social innovation, gender equality, and community impact assessment.