Me

I am a Lecturer in Urban Planning and Development at Cardiff University's School of Geography and Planning. I specialise in environmental planning and multi-level governance. I have been based in South Wales for over twenty five years. I am a Welsh learner.

As an academic, I have undertaken social science research, science communication and teaching.

My research covers:

1) the governance of Circular Economy activity (including sustainability transitions in wastes, resources and energy),
2) improving Social Justice outcomes through improved public engagement efforts and mediation with communities via national planning systems,
3) the nature of Space, Place, Expertise and Citizenship, and
4) the Hydrogen Economy.

Most recently, I worked for the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD) at Cardiff University (2021-3). This Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) project was entitled ‘Experts, expertise and citizen science: a case study of air quality monitoring’ and followed a case study of a contested energy-from-biomass plant owned by Aviva Investors PLC in Barry near Cardiff. My colleagues on the project were Prof Rob Evans and Dr Jamie Lewis of the School of Social Sciences (SOCSI) at Cardiff University.

Prior to this, I was a lecturer at the School of Geography and Planning at Cardiff University (2018-2021). Researching with Dr Andrew Flynn and Prof Richard Cowell, I pursued research-led teaching on environmental planning and governance covering the Circular Economy, Hydrogen Economy and prior participatory action research of mine into land use planning conflicts over Energy-from-Waste (EfW) infrastructure in Cardiff, Swansea and China.

I completed a PhD in Sustainability at the Welsh School of Architecture at Cardiff University in July 2017. I undertook part of my PhD research working as part of the £1.2m SUPERGEN XIV Delivery of Sustainable Hydrogen Consortium in 2010-13. Funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the social science work package I was on was managed by Prof Malcolm Eames. I examined comparative case studies of hydrogen fuel cell innovation in the UK and Germany which began in earnest in the 1950s.

I also hold a Masters degree in Sustainability, Planning and Environmental Policy (SPEP) from Cardiff University (2010), a BA (Hons) Geography degree from the School of Geography at the University of Manchester (1990) and an Associate Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).

Prior to researching in academia, I had an 18-year professional career researching in the media. I worked as an investigative journalist and television programme maker for BBC Adult Education, BBC Wales, ITV Wales, the Open University, Channel 4 (via a range of independent production companies). Corporate productions whilst at Uden Associates TV (1990-4) were with clients including Ford of Europe, Amerada Hess Corp. and the Royal Mail. Between 2004 and 2007, I worked as a history researcher on contract to HarperCollins US.

Broadcast television content included case studies of unsustainable planning practice in Wales. This included the abandoned Castle Quays shopping centre project in Swansea city centre and two abandoned biomass energy plants in Swansea and Carmarthenshire (the latter two plants were from the same developer).

I am motivated above all to assist communities move towards greater technical democracy. I also want to aid planners move towards best practice, identify unrecognised pollution, and support efforts to overcome health inequalities.

I enjoy black-and-white photography, poetry, science fiction, genealogy and archaeology.