Alan Convery is Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Edinburgh's School of Social and Political Science, specializing in UK party politics and territorial governance. His research examines Conservative Party dynamics in Scotland and Wales, Brexit's constitutional implications, and multi-level political systems. He serves as Lead Editor of the British Journal of Politics and International Relations (2018-2021) and co-convenes the Political Studies Association's Conservatism Studies Group. His work combines institutional analysis with policy impact assessment across devolved governments. Convery's research investigates: Conservative Party adaptation in devolved contexts Brexit's reshaping of territorial strategies Gender dimensions of executive power Comparative regional party competition His publications analyze party manifestos, governmental structures, and historical political traditions, with recent focus on post-Brexit constitutional arrangements and ministerial experiences. Convery leads research projects on Scottish Conservatism's future and gender dynamics in governmental institutions.
Neil McGarvey is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics at the University of Strathclyde. His research focuses on Scottish governance, devolution dynamics, and intergovernmental relations. He has led consultancy projects for the Scottish Local Government Boundary Commission and contributed to policy analysis on local government structures. Education: Not explicitly stated, but active in academic research since at least 1994. Research Interests McGarvey specializes in UK constitutional studies, particularly the interplay between devolved institutions and the broader union framework. His work examines the role of local government in Scotland, policy implementation under devolution, and the implications of referendums on national identity. Key themes include institutional adaptation, political representation, and the evolving relationship between Scotland and the UK. His recent publications analyze post-devolution governance, intergovernmental coordination challenges, and the impact of immigrant communities on Scottish independence debates. Notably, he critiques the structural positioning of local government within the Scottish political landscape. Grants/Projects: Led 4 consultancy projects including the Local Government Boundary Commission study and Councillor Workload Analysis. McGarvey has presented at international venues such as the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay, and engages in peer review and editorial work in political science journals.
Dr Elodie Fabre is a Lecturer in Politics and International Relations within the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics (HAPP) at Queen's University Belfast. She specializes in comparative European and British politics with particular expertise in political parties, territorial politics, devolution, and democratic innovations. Her research focuses on the relationship between political parties, territorial politics, and citizen engagement across multiple contexts: Devolution and political parties in the UK and Spain Citizen engagement and regional democracy Organization of French political parties as national coordinator for France in the Political Parties Database project Democratic innovations including referendums and citizens' assemblies/juries Comparative party organization across multilevel political systems Dr Fabre's publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly contribution to understanding party organization in multilevel systems, with particular attention to the UK, Spain, France, and Brazil. Her recent work (2024) has expanded to examine sub-national state capacity and French political parties' relationship with democracy, reflecting broader trends in political science toward institutional resilience and democratic consolidation. Her scholarly achievements have been recognized with several awards: AHSS Faculty Research Initiavives Fund (2023) Regional and Federal Studies Best Article Prize (2021) Regional and Federal Studies Graduate Prize (2008) As an active educator, Dr Fabre convenes the MA Politics program and key courses including Comparative Territorial Politics, Challenges to Contemporary Party Politics, and The Politics and Economics of the Devolved UK. She teaches British Politics and Democratic Challenges, and has previously convened courses on Northern Irish institutions and citizen engagement. She actively supervises PhD students in her areas of expertise and maintains extensive media engagement, providing expert commentary for France 24, BBC, and other outlets on contemporary political developments including the 2024 French parliamentary elections.
Amanda Kramer is a Senior Lecturer at Queen's University Belfast's School of Law, affiliated with the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice (ICCJ). Her research focuses on post-Brexit legal and security dynamics, colonial legal frameworks, and policing practices. She has contributed to over 28 publications and policy reports since 2014. Key research interests include Brexit's impact on criminal justice systems, human rights law, and autism awareness in policing. She co-authored influential reports on post-Brexit security in Ireland and UK-EU criminal justice cooperation. Kramer is also engaged in decolonizing property law discourse in Northern Ireland. 2020 Finalist for Vice Chancellor's Research Culture Prize Organized major conferences like the 15th Irish North/South Criminology Conference (2024) Contributed expert commentary to media on Brexit's security implications and drug legalization debates Her work bridges legal theory and practice, with notable contributions to policy consultations on modern slavery and border security.
Diego de Merich is a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary University of London. His research explores ethics in international development, feminist care ethics, and intersectionality in policy mainstreaming. He completed his Ph.D. at LSE, where he led equality initiatives in curriculum design. His 2019 publication analyzes equality mainstreaming in UK devolved governments. De Merich collaborates with the Institute for Intersectionality Research (SFU) and engages in public workshops on gender equity.
Davide Vampa is a Senior Lecturer in Territorial Politics at the University of Edinburgh's School of Social and Political Science. He joined the Politics and International Relations department in 2024 and serves as co-director of the Centre on Constitutional Change. His academic career spans multiple prestigious UK institutions including LSE, SOAS, University of Nottingham, De Montfort University, and Aston University, where he has established himself as a leading expert in territorial politics and comparative political systems across Europe. Dr. Vampa holds a doctorate in Political Science from the European University Institute (2015), an MPhil in European Politics and Society from Oxford (2011), an MA in European Studies from King's College London (2009), and a BA in History from the University of Milan (2007). His educational background reflects a strong foundation in European politics, history, and comparative governance systems that informs his current research trajectory. Dr. Vampa's research focuses on territorial politics and public policy across multiple governance levels, multi-level party politics including electoral behavior and organizational structures, and the rise of populism in both right-wing and left-wing contexts. His work extensively examines the crisis of social democracy in contemporary European politics, with particular attention to Italy and Spain. His comparative approach reveals how regional dynamics shape national political landscapes and policy outcomes, especially during periods of economic and political instability. Analysis of Dr. Vampa's recent publications reveals a strong focus on multi-level governance during crisis periods, particularly examining how regional authorities responded to the Covid-19 pandemic. His work increasingly explores the relationship between capital cities and peripheral regions within devolved systems, alongside continued analysis of populist movements and their impact on traditional party systems across Europe. This research demonstrates his methodological sophistication in comparative analysis across multiple European regions. Author of three books including 'Brothers of Italy: A New Populist Wave in an Unstable Party System' (2023) and 'The Regional Politics of Welfare in Italy, Spain and Great Britain' (2016) Co-editor of 'Populism and New Patterns of Political Competition in Western Europe' (2021) Regular contributor to leading journals including Government and Opposition, Party Politics, Journal of Public Policy, and Regional & Federal Studies As co-director of the Centre on Constitutional Change and principal investigator on the British Academy-funded project 'Exploring the Emergence of New Territorial Divides after Devolution,' Dr. Vampa leads significant research examining socio-political gaps between capital cities and peripheral areas in Scotland and Wales. His work bridges academic research with policy relevance, contributing to ongoing debates about regional inequality and democratic representation in multi-level governance systems across Europe.
Leon Gooberman serves as Reader in Employment Relations and Business History at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University. His academic career spans post-doctoral research on employer collective action through an ESRC-funded project to his current leadership in Welsh-medium academic provision. Prior to academia, he contributed to economic development policy with organizations including PwC and Cardiff Council. PhD in Government Intervention in the Welsh Economy (1974-1997), Cardiff University (2013) MPA, University of Liverpool B.A (Hons) in History, University of Aberystwyth His research centers on employer collective action and the economy-state relationship in modern Wales , with significant contributions to business history and political economy. Gooberman examines how employers organize collectively and how regional economic policies evolve, particularly through the lens of Welsh industrial history from the Great Depression to contemporary devolution. His work bridges historical analysis with current employment relations debates. His 15 most recent publications (2019-2025) reveal consistent focus on Welsh economic governance , employer organization dynamics , and historical industrial policy . Articles span business history journals ( Business History , Enterprise and Society ), employment relations outlets ( Work, Employment and Society , Industrial Relations Journal ), and political history publications. Key trends include analysis of Welsh devolution referendums, wartime industrial mobilization, agricultural labor relations, and the evolution of employer associations in the UK's changing constitutional landscape. Gooberman actively contributes to policy through research for the Welsh Government and Hans Böckler Foundation. As Cardiff Business School's Academic Lead for Welsh language provision, he has developed Welsh-medium teaching modules and facilitated cross-school enrollment in Welsh-language courses. His current teaching includes Employment Relations (BS2534), European Business Environment (BS3594), and Small Business Management in Welsh (BS3024). His research infrastructure includes leadership in the Contemporary Employers' Organizations research group, evidenced by co-editing the 2022 Routledge volume Contemporary Employers' Organizations: Adaptation and Resilience and directing projects on European employer organizations with the Hans Böckler Foundation.
Dr. Simon Gwyn Roberts is a Senior Lecturer in Journalism at the University of Chester's Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, specifically within the Communications, Screen and Performance department at the School for the Creative Industries. He has been with the university since August 2003 and currently leads eight modules across academic strands of four journalism programs while serving as a PhD supervisor. His educational background includes a PhD from the University of Chester, an MA from the University of Liverpool (1992-1993), and a BA Hons from the University of Manchester (1988-1991). He holds professional certifications as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS). Roberts' research focuses on the intersection of political communication, cultural geography, and journalism practice, with particular emphasis on devolution processes, social media's political role, and historical perspectives on journalism. His work frequently examines Welsh political identity within broader British contexts, analyzing media representation of national identity, Brexit's impact on Welsh politics, and the relationship between place and cultural expression in journalism. His recent publications (2020-2024) demonstrate consistent scholarly output examining Welsh devolution, social media strategies during the pandemic, cultural legacies in music, and historical framing of European identity in British media. These works reveal a research trajectory increasingly focused on digital communication's role in shaping political identity and national discourse, particularly in devolved contexts. Among his notable recognitions are his fellowships with the Higher Education Academy and Royal Geographical Society, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach bridging journalism studies with geographical perspectives on identity and place. As an educator, Roberts teaches across a diverse range of journalism subjects including Journalism Futures, Post-Truth World journalism, Conflict reporting, Sustainable Journalism, Popular Music Spaces, Politics of Social Media, Journalism history, Global News, and Sports business. His teaching portfolio reflects the same interdisciplinary approach evident in his research, connecting contemporary journalism practice with historical context and cultural analysis.
Dr. Helen Foster is a Senior Lecturer in Accounting at Ulster University's Business School, affiliated with the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics based at the Belfast campus. She serves as Course Director for the BSc (Hons) Accounting program and actively promotes student employability. With professional qualifications as a Chartered Accountant (Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland), she brings industry experience from financial roles prior to joining academia in 2002. Education: PhD, Ulster University (2020) MPA with distinction, Ulster University BA (Hons) Accounting (First Class), Ulster University Research Focus: Helen's scholarship examines financial accounting practices and IFRS implementation, with specialized expertise in public sector accountability mechanisms. Her doctoral research analyzed devolved Public Accounts Committees in the UK, establishing her as a leading authority on parliamentary oversight in decentralized governance systems. She maintains active engagement with policymakers through government advisory roles. Publication Trends: Recent works demonstrate sustained focus on governmental accountability structures, particularly examining committee effectiveness in devolved UK administrations through mixed-method approaches. Earlier contributions explored pedagogical innovations in accounting education, including empirical studies on work placement efficacy. Awards & Honors: Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Distinguished Teaching Award recipient (2014 team award) Professional Engagement: Helen serves as examiner for accounting certification bodies, judges the Irish Stock Exchange Published Accounts Award, and contributes to CAI Ulster Society's Public Sector Group. Her government advisory activities include presenting research findings to parliamentary stakeholders.
Stephen Clear is a Lecturer in Constitutional and Administrative Law, and Public Procurement at Bangor University's School of History, Law and Social Sciences. Originally from London, he has been teaching Law at Bangor since 2011. He graduated from the University of Wales in 2010 with a First Class Honours LLB and completed an LLM by Research at Bangor University in 2012. From September 2021 until January 2024, he served as the Law Subject Lead in the School of History, Law, and Social Sciences, and prior to that, he was Bangor Law School's Senior Tutor from 2016 until 2021. He currently serves as Director of Mooting, Personal Tutor, and School Field Trips Coordinator within the School. Stephen's research spans three interconnected areas: Public Law : His constitutional and administrative law research focuses on the future of the UK Union, devolved administrations' relationship with Westminster, fundamental constitutional principles (Rule of Law, Separation of Powers, Parliamentary Sovereignty), Human Rights, and Judicial Review. His work has been published in European Public Law, European Politeia, Legal Studies, and Pouvoirs. Public Procurement Law : His procurement research, often in collaboration with Dr. Ama Eyo, appears in European Public Law and European Procurement & Public Private Partnership Law Review. He co-authors Sweet and Maxwell's leading reference work 'Public Procurement Law and Practice' and was appointed Co-Consultant Editor of Halsbury's Laws of England for Volume 85A on Procurement Law in November 2023. Legal Education and Mooting : His pedagogical research addresses internationalization, employability, wellbeing, community building, and the expectation-reality gap between legal education and practice. His work has been published in The Law Teacher, Journal of Commonwealth Law and Legal Education, and Euroempleo Journal. Stephen's publications show consistent scholarly output across constitutional law, with particular attention to Welsh devolution, the UK Union, and constitutional monarchy. His recent work increasingly addresses wellbeing in legal education and the practical implications of constitutional developments for Wales. His research demonstrates interdisciplinary connections between constitutional law, public procurement, and legal education. His notable awards include: Santander Universities Mobility Award (2020) Ernest Walder Scholarship by Gladstone's Library (2019) Bangor University Teaching Fellowship (2022) Stan Marsh Best Poster Prize by the Association of Law Teachers (2017) Edward Elgar Publishing 'Best Poster Prize' by the Society of Legal Scholars (2014) Numerous teaching awards including recognition from the Speaker of the House of Commons Stephen actively supervises undergraduate and master's dissertation students and has developed strong connections with courts and legal institutions to enhance student learning. He has served as External Examiner for Law at Manchester University (2020-2024) and University of Essex (2025-2029). His media engagement is extensive, with appearances on BBC Politics Wales, LBC News, and Sputnik News, and contributions to The Guardian, The Independent, and numerous international media outlets. His work for The Conversation has reached an international readership exceeding 700,000. As Director of Mooting, Stephen has built Bangor Law School's mooting program from its inception in 2008-2009, establishing internal competitions like the McLaren Criminal Law Moot and Cwpan Griffiths Welsh Moot. He has led teams to success in national competitions including Lexis Nexis Welsh National Mooting Competition and international competitions including the KK Luthra International Criminal Law Moot Competition in New Delhi, India. He has fostered strong links with courts including Caernarfon's Criminal Justice Centre, Manchester's Crown Court, and Salford's Magistrates' Court.
Professor Arianna Andreangeli is a Professor of Competition Law at the University of Edinburgh's School of Law. She holds a Laurea in Giurisprudenza from LUISS Guido Carli (Rome), an LLM from University College Dublin, and a PhD from the University of Birmingham. Her research focuses on EU and domestic competition law, exploring how these frameworks balance market competition with regulatory needs and innovation incentives. Key areas include the impact of Brexit on competition policy in the UK, devolution-related challenges, and digital markets regulation. Her work has addressed topics such as the interplay between competition policy and industrial strategy in the Draghi Report, regulatory challenges posed by AI-driven pricing algorithms, and the implications of the Digital Markets Act. She has also analyzed the legal dimensions of minimum alcohol pricing in Scotland and the evolving role of Scottish courts within the EU legal framework. Professor Andreangeli has contributed to policy briefs for the Scottish Parliament on consumer policy and Brexit's effects on devolved powers. Her scholarship bridges academic inquiry with practical legal challenges in competition enforcement, digital markets, and post-Brexit regulatory frameworks.
Dr. Sioned Pearce is a Lecturer in Social Policy at Cardiff University's School of Social Sciences, specializing in work, welfare, devolution, and civil society's impact on marginalized young people in the UK and internationally. She investigates how central and devolved policies shape grassroots employment support across different UK regions. Her research collaborations span UK academics and international partners in Canada and Italy, alongside civil society practitioners and policymakers. Key projects include leading a WISERD Work Package on devolved governance, civil society activism, and welfare for refugees/asylum seekers with Nivedita Narayan. She contributes to Cardiff University's Ignite program fostering positive research culture. Her work emphasizes cross-jurisdictional policy analysis and participatory research methods, such as film-based approaches to capture youth perspectives on Brexit. Dr. Pearce is available for postgraduate supervision and can be contacted via pearces11@cardiff.ac.uk. She is a Welsh speaker and active media commentator on social policy issues.
Dr. Michael Cole is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Liverpool Management School, specializing in governance, public administration, and climate change-related governance challenges. With a career spanning multiple institutions (Glamorgan, Northumbria, Exeter, Plymouth), he has maintained a focus on UK devolution, local government reforms, and cross-national studies of political leadership in China. BSc in Politics (1985), MPhil (1991), and PhD (2008) from University of Southampton and Plymouth Leading research on carbon emissions governance, rhetorical history in Brexit discourse, and China's governance structures His research has produced influential publications in journals like Political Studies , Public Administration , and Management & Organizational History , with recent projects analyzing governmental responses to climate change as a 'super wicked problem' and digital governance in China. Collaborations include work with Dr. Jiajing Sun at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Prof. Laura McAllister. He supervises PhD projects on China's political integration, public auditing, and business-peace dynamics, while also contributing to teaching across business and governance modules like European Union and Business and Government and Business . His work has been recognized with multiple Certificates of Teaching Excellence and inclusion in Who's Who in the World . 2018: Certificate of Teaching Excellence 2017: Research Award 2005-present: Who's Who in the World entry
Anne Beauvallet is a Lecturer at the Center for Anglophone Studies (CAS), University of Toulouse – Jean Jaurès, where she teaches British civilization and economic civilization. Her academic work centers on education policy and social issues in the United Kingdom, particularly England. Research Interests: Her research spans British education policy across multiple political eras, including Thatcherism, the Major and Brown governments, and the Con-Lib coalition. She investigates citizenship education, teachers' unions, school meals, truancy, anti-social behavior, and the socio-political dimensions of education. Her work often compares policy developments across the UK’s four nations and analyzes historical continuities and shifts in educational governance. Publication Trends: Her publications from 2009 to 2024 reflect a sustained focus on the political and social dimensions of British education. Recent work emphasizes contemporary challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic's impact on education and current debates over relationships education and educational inequality. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges history, political science, and educational studies, frequently published in French journals on British society. Scientific Awards: No awards mentioned in the provided text. Advising and Grants: The provided texts do not mention any students, advising roles, or research grants. Research Environment: She is affiliated with the Centre for Anglophone Studies (CAS), a research unit at the University of Toulouse – Jean Jaurès, which supports interdisciplinary research on English-speaking countries. She collaborates with scholars across France and participates in national and international academic discussions on British studies.
John Harrington is Professor of Global Health Law at Cardiff University's School of Law and Politics, where he focuses on the intersection of health, law, and the state. His work spans global health law, medical law, transnational law, and socio-legal studies, with particular emphasis on the Global South and devolved health systems within the UK. His educational background includes an LL.B from Trinity College, Dublin and a BCL from Oxford University. Harrington's research combines socio-legal and humanities approaches, drawing on qualitative empirical, legal doctrinal, and archival methods, as well as techniques from classical rhetoric and cultural studies. Harrington's research interests center on how national contexts shape global health law implementation. He examines access to essential medicines, pandemic control, indigenous medical knowledge, and the right to health in the Global South, alongside emerging health law in the UK's devolved nations. His work consistently explores the role of the state in health law, from Tanzania during structural adjustment to the impact of devolution on health law in the UK. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on pandemic governance, health sovereignty, and the impact of devolution on health law. Harrington's work demonstrates increasing attention to the Global South's agency in global health governance, with significant research on Kenya's vaccine diplomacy and the regulation of traditional medicine. His interdisciplinary approach bridges law, anthropology, political science, and public health. Runner-up, Socio-Legal Theory and History Book Prize (2017) Senior Research Fellow, British Institute in Eastern Africa (2010-14) Global Fellow, University of Melbourne (2007) Jean Monnet Fellow, European University Institute (2001-2) Harrington actively supervises PhD students on topics including children's participation in climate litigation, indigenous communities' access to healthcare in Kenya, and the law of minimum alcohol pricing. His research has been funded by ESRC, AHRC, British Academy, Leverhulme Trust, Welsh Government, and Open Society Justice Initiative. As Chair of the Socio-Legal Studies Association (2022-25) and former Founding Director of the Welsh Graduate School for Social Sciences, he plays a significant leadership role in the academic community. Harrington founded and directed Cardiff Law and Global Justice research center (2015-22), which included the Global Justice Law Clinic enabling students to work with global NGOs on human rights cases. He also developed the innovative Law and Literature module in collaboration with Cardiff's Sherman Theatre, integrating legal theory with cultural performance.
