People

IFLAS Founder: Professor Jem Bendell

Dr Jem Bendell is Professor of Sustainability Leadership and Founder of the Initiative for Leadership and Sustainability (IFLAS) at the University of Cumbria (UK).

Jem focuses on leadership and communications for social change, as well as approaches that may help humanity face climate-induced disruption. A graduate of the University of Cambridge, Jem had twenty years of experience in sustainable business and finance, as a researcher, educator, facilitator, advisor, & entrepreneur, having lived & worked in six countries. Clients for his strategy development included international corporations, UN agencies and international NGOs.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) recognised Professor Bendell as a Young Global Leader for his work on sustainable business alliances. With over 100 publications, including four books and five UN reports, he regularly appeared in international media on topics of sustainable business and finance, as well as currency innovation. His TEDx talk is the most watched online speech on complementary currencies.

In 2012 Professor Bendell co-authored the WEF report on the Sharing Economy. Previously he helped create innovative alliances, including the Marine Stewardship Council, to endorse sustainable fisheries and The Finance Innovation Lab, to promote sustainable finance. In 2007 he wrote a report for WWF on the responsibility of luxury brands, which appeared in over 50 newspapers and magazines worldwide, and inspired a number of entrepreneurs to create businesses in the luxury sector. That bio is all past tense, as now Jem has moved into a new phase of work in light of the latest climate science.

Dr David F. Murphy is Associate Professor of Sustainability & Collaborative Leadership and Academic Lead of the Initiative for Leadership & Sustainability (IFLAS), University of Cumbria.  He is also the Co-Programme Leader of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme.

David has extensive international experience of working on multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration with senior leaders and change agents in business, government, NGOs, and the UN system, including related teaching, applied research and consultancy on partnerships for sustainable development.

Recent research and knowledge exchange projects include: Strengthening Cumbria's Civil Society with the Office of the Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria, Cumbria Development Education Centre (CDEC) and Thinking Philanthropy; and a series of projects on the transformational potential of partnerships for the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

David has an MSc in Comparative Development and International Policy, and a PhD in International Policy on Sustainable Development, from the School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol.

Administrative Officer

Martin provides administrative support to the Institute and the credit-bearing courses it runs. 

Email: martin.pyrah@cumbria.ac.uk 

Phone: +44 (0)1539 430228

Principal Lecturer, specialising in international business and cross-cultural management. Dr Ng is Programme Leader for the MBA programmes the University of Cumbria offers in conjunction with the Robert Kennedy College.

Sarah is module co-ordinator for 'Tackling global-local challenges in ethics, responsibility and sustainability' which is the residency module for the specialist online MBA suite in partnership with Robert Kennedy College, Zurich. She joined the University of Cumbria in September 2019 after designing and managing a specialist MSc in Sustainable Business Management that was delivered across the global campus.

Sarah has over 30 years’ experience of working with business and public / voluntary sector partners, largely to develop and support environmental management programs. she is an experienced university lecturer who has embedded sustainability across a number of business and management modules. This encompasses how businesses respond and adapt to issues of environmental and social responsibility and ethics. Sarah is particularly interested in how businesses - of all shapes, sizes and sectors – respond and adapt to climate change and resource scarcity.

For the last decade plus Jo has run a successful global portfolio of consultancy, development and research roles. Her work supports and enables development of organisations and people in the Higher Education and other sectors. Her client portfolio includes universities in the UK and over a dozen other countries, HE agencies and Ministries; additionally high growth start-ups, S Asian MNEs, UN organisations and non-profits.  

A qualified and experienced coach, facilitator, teacher and trainer Jo brings a wealth of skills and understanding for high support-high challenge professional relationships. 

Jo is a doctoral researcher in Leadership Development at the Institute for Leadership & Sustainability / Lancaster University where she also designs and delivers Level 7 and CPD modules. 

Having lived and worked in South Asia for nearly a decade, Jo has an expertise in cultural intelligence and bridging, bringing new perspectives and supporting collaboration, learning and partnership building across sectors and countries. She is also a mountain guide, leading groups up and around wild and remote places of the greater ranges. 

Ian is a Senior Lecturer in Business and Economics, specialising in Sustainable Strategy, Creativity and New Product Development. 

Ian is also programme leader of the Aspiring Leaders Programme (ALP) which is run by The University of Cumbria, the Brathay Trust and Common Purpose. This undergraduate programme results in a Bachelors in Social Enterprise Leadership.

Before taking retirement in 2019, Grace was a Senior Lecturer in Management Studies, specialising in public sector leadership. With IFLAS, Dr Hurford lectured on leadership on our Masters level courses and bespoke courses.

Dr Hurford continues to lecture at the University of Cumbria as a visiting lecturer with the Institute for Business, Industry and Leadership (IBIL)

10th Anniversary Visiting Professor of Sustainability Leadership

Special interest in the application of critical social theory to questions of organisation and leadership for sustainability. 

Senior Consultant with Impact International: 35 years experience of organisation development consulting in every kind of organisation, including global corporations, government, non-governmental and public service organisations, charities and activist groups.

Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Alison Marshall is Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Cumbria. She has worked in business, academia and consultancy at the interface between innovators, users and organisations throughout her working life. She has interests in the development and adoption of technology, supporting innovation and user engagement, at an individual, organisational and regional level.

Recent work has focussed on the distinctiveness of rural contexts, particularly how collaboration and partnerships develop to foster innovation and growth.

Frank is Professor of Regional Economic Development, and leads the Centre for Regional Economic Development. He supports IFLAS with teaching about Leadership of Place on the MBA programmes and in related short courses.