Niamh Moore Cherry is a Full Professor and College Principal at the College of Social Sciences and Law, University College Dublin (UCD) , with an Honorary Professorship at the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London . She has held leadership roles including Deputy Principal and Vice-Principal for Teaching and Learning, and leads a research group on Cities, Governance, and Sustainability. BA and PhD in Geography from University College Dublin Principal Fellow, Advance HE (formerly UK Higher Education Academy), 2017 Member, National Economic and Social Council (NESC), appointed by the Irish Taoiseach Chair, International Geographical Congress 2024, Dublin Former President, Geographical Society of Ireland Her research focuses on urban governance, metropolitanisation, sustainability, and heritage . She examines the political and spatial dynamics of urban redevelopment, with case studies in Dublin, London, Nanjing, and Warsaw. Her work bridges academic research and policy, contributing to Ireland’s National Planning Framework and the UK2070 Commission. Recent publications explore just transitions, smart city governance, urban precarity, and the role of green spaces in mental health. Her recent articles reveal a strong thematic focus on spatial justice, policy engagement, and community-led urban development . She emphasizes co-creation, lived experience, and the need for governance innovation to address socio-spatial inequalities. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates geography, planning, and public policy. Principal Fellowship, Advance HE Campus Engage Community Engaged Learning Exemplar UCD College of Social Sciences and Law Teaching Excellence Award University Teaching Excellence Award Honorary Professor, Bartlett School of Planning, UCL Aurora Programme Leadership Participant She has led grant-funded projects on sustainable urban mobility, metropolitan governance, and urban greening. She mentors students through peer mentoring programs and has promoted student-staff partnerships in curriculum design. She teaches modules such as Cities in a Global World , International Urban Fieldwork , and Research Design . She leads the Cities, Governance and Sustainability research group and is active in professional networks including the IGU Urban Commission , Royal Geographical Society , and editorial boards of Irish Geography and Journal of Geography in Higher Education .






