PhD Scholars
Claire Cutforth
Having completed a degree in Law Claire went on to obtain a Research Masters in Recycling Technology from the Department of Materials Engineering at the University of Wales, Swansea. In 2002 she began working for the Waste Management Department at Cardiff County Council where she is now the Minimisation and Education Officer.
Cardiff County Council have agreed to support Claire to undertake a part-time PhD to investigate what encourages householders to engage in waste minimisation behaviour at or before the point of purchase.
Emma Dean
Emma graduated in 2007 from Swansea University with a BSc (Hons) in Geography. Her undergraduate dissertation was focused on Organic Food and the goal of Localisation with specific focus on cheese production. To gain access and insight to vital information about the workings of organic production Emma worked the summer of 2006 at Jubilee Organic Farm in Kent.
Gavin Harper
Gavin holds a Diploma in Design & Innovation and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Technology from the Open University. He went on to study towards a Master of Science in Architecture with Advanced Environmental & Energy Studies with the University of East London at the Centre for Alternative Technology. He also holds the Diploma of Vilnius University, Lithuania. He has undertaken some further study with the Open University and with Loughborough University’s Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology. Gavin is currently working on his PhD Thesis: The Social, Political & Economic Impact of Alternative Vehicles and Fuels.
Poppy Nicol
Poppy holds a bachelors degree in Geography from Oxford University, where she studied at St. Peter’s College. Her dissertation focused upon the impact of a local food project in Merthyr Tydfil and its regenerative potential. This stimulated an interest in the empowering potential of food within communities. Following graduation, Poppy worked on an organic farm in Umbria, Italy where she gained insight into the concepts of permaculture and biodynamics. She spent the majority of 2007 in Spain with the ‘Leonardo Program’ in Seville followed by a teaching placement in the Basque Country. Her PhD is titled: ‘Public-Private Regulation: economic globalisation and ecological localisation in the agri-food sector.’
Evelyn Nava-Fischer
Evelyn graduated in Economics in Mexico at the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM) and the INSEEC in Paris and as a post graduate in Institutional Economics and Geography at La Sorbonne in Paris. She has been fellow of the French Government, the German Bucerius School of Die Zeit foundation, and holds the Richard Whipp Grant for cross-disciplinary research at Cardiff University.
Fabien Martinez
Fabien obtained his first degree – equivalent of HND in Buisness Management – in France in 2004 and went on to move to Edinburgh where he studied for an MSc in Business Management. Fabien is currently undertaking an MSc in Social Science Research Methods at Cardiff University, with a view to starting his PhD at BRASS in autumn 2009. His Doctorate thesis will look at corporate social responsibility and social challenges faced by MNCs in emerging economies, suggesting adaptive solutions within local communities.
Louise Obara
After completing her Masters degree in the Theory and Practice of Human Rights from Essex University, Louise joined BRASS in 2003 as a research associate. She worked on a range of projects and was particularly involved in the Cardiff Waste Trial Survey and Evaluation Project and Land-Use Disputes in Ghana Mining Project.
In October 2007 Louise secured funding from the ESRC to complete a 4 year PhD. Her research will focus on the business sectors understanding of the nature and scope of social responsibilities in relation to human rights. Of particular interest to this research concerns how the business community understands, negotiates and manages human rights issues as well as considering the extent to which recent emerging tools and concepts (such as ‘spheres of influence’ and ‘concentric circles’) that assist companies in establishing and applying human rights standards are utilised, or could be of use, in this process. In addition to her PhD Louise is also involved in a number of BRASS research projects, such as the sustainable communities project.
Llyr Roberts
Llyr graduated from the University of Oxford in 2000 with an honours degree in Modern History. He started his career as a political journalist with the BBC, working as a senior producer on a number of political programmes and also reporting on the work of the National Assembly for Wales and UK Parliament on both TV and radio. He moved into the private sector in 2004 to join a leading political consultancy in the fields of health and economic development, and in 2006 he co-founded an independent political consultancy. He has provided public affairs and CSR advice and support to a broad range of private, public and voluntary sector organisations in the fields of retail, transport, economic development and health, and has also held responsibility for business development and corporate social responsibility at board level within the company.
Anthony Samuel
Anthony is currently a Senior lecturer in Marketing and Strategic Management on both undergraduate and postgraduate course At Trinity College Carmarthen. He has a MBA from Lincoln University and is presently working towards his PhD at BRASS. The PhD Thesis aims to research the role of place based communities in influencing sustainable/ethical consumption with particular reference to Fairtrade Towns. In addition to the above Anthony has a key interest in corporate social responsibility and ethical business and has recently designed two new undergraduate courses in these areas. Anthony is an active member of the Carmarthenshire Fairtrade Steering group and is presently helping Trinity College Carmarthen achieve the status of a Fairtrade University
Radoslaw Stech
Radoslaw holds a BA and MA in Political Science (specialization in European Studies) from the Pultusk Academy of Humanities, Poland. His interests during this period were focused on civic participation in democracy. His energy was devoted to various activities, including for example, being a leader of a Cultural Circle and a chairman of a European Debate at the Academy; an assistant of a physician, philosopher and a world-famous film director Krzysztof Zanussi; and a political observer during the Orange Revolution in Ukraine. His PhD thesis is titled: "Citizens' activity as a catalyst of business responsibility in environmental matters. The implementation of the Aarhus Convention in Poland and the UK".
Steven Vaughan
Steven has a degree in Jurisprudence from Oxford University. Steven went on to train as a solicitor at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Qualifying in 205, Steven joined Freshfield's Environment, Planning and Regulatory team in London. In the summer of 2006, Steven joined the London office of Latham &Watkins LLP as an attorney in their Environment, Land and Resources group.
Steven's doctorate thesis examines regulation, theory and practice in the context of disclosures on environmental matters made by bodies corporate.
