Dr Amy Burns
Food Innovation
Since joining Ulster University Business School in 2001 I have worked with the food and drinks industry, from SME’s to Global organisations, by helping them to gain greater consumer insight, developing their products, and their route to market. In my role as Director of the Food and Consumer Testing Suite (FACTS) I have had the privilege to work with inspiring entrepreneurs who have informed my teaching and research and improved greatly on the employability of our undergraduates.
FACTS is recognised throughout Ireland and the UK as a world-standard hub which creates links between academic expertise and the pragmatics of developing and marketing food products; hence our ability to appeal to all from one-person start-up businesses to multinational companies. Ulster University Business School is a leader in supporting the local and international food and drink’s industry in all aspects from recipes and sustainable development to launching new products to the target consumer. I look forward to working with you in the future to grow your business whether it is a startup or already well established.
Professor Barry Quinn
Research
My research interests are in rural enterprise and agri-food small firm growth and networking. I am particularly interested in the artisan and craft food sector and local food marketing and consumption. I have worked closely with small, rural and farming enterprises on several externally funded projects that have focused on topics such as support for business development and attitudes towards agri-environmental schemes. I work closely with agri-food stakeholders and agencies on industry policy development. My research has been published widely in journals such as Journal of Rural Studies and European Journal of Marketing and has been commended for its impact on policy and industry.
Geoff Simmons
Market Intelligence
I am Professor of Marketing and Consumer Insight at Ulster University Business School, Ulster University. And a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Previously to this I was Professor of Marketing and Director of Research for three years at Queen's Management School, Queen's University Belfast. My research is recognised as being of a world leading and internationally excellent standard.
Professor Ioannis S. Pantelidis
Research
I am the Head of the Department of Hospitality, Tourism and Events Management at Ulster Business School. Previously, I served as the Director of Help to Grow and Lead Academic for Knowledge Exchange at the School of Business and Law. Additionally, I held the role of Director of Doctoral Studies for Brighton Doctoral College.
I actively contribute to various advisory boards and executive roles, including the Advisory Board for Be Inclusive Hospitality and as a Past Chair (2018-21) of The Council for Hospitality Management Education.
My contributions extend to academic writing, with notable works such as the Routledge Handbook of Hospitality Management and co-authored editions of Food and Beverage Management. I serve as Editor in Chief for Tourism and Hospitality Research (THR) by Sage and Hospitality Editor for the Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education (JoHLSTE).
In my earlier roles, I served as the Academic Leader for widening participation projects and Head of Admissions, Marketing, and Recruitment Tutors at the School of Sport and Service Management (SaSM). I also served as the Programme Centre Leader for Postgraduate Courses for SaSM and was a founding member of the European Hospitality Academy.
Dr Lynsey Hollywood
Food Innovation
As manager of the Food and Drink Business Centre, I support businesses through research and teaching to help strengthen their competitive position within the marketplace. I have worked with a range of local food and drink businesses on projects relating to food innovation and customer insight. I am a Senior Lecturer specialising in marketing and consumer behaviour and am a Principal Investigator on several large research grants relating to food safety, food promotions and food innovation and am a co-investigator on grants relating to sustainable and resilient food systems.
I work with a range of companies from artisans to large producers on a variety of challenges including new product development, the upcycling of waste food ingredients, digital marketing and communications and improved nutrition. I am always happy to meet with your company to find out more and determine how my colleagues or I could best support your business through research or teaching.
Michael Gillies
Food Innovation
As Course Director for BSc Culinary Arts Management my main research areas focus on consumer perceptions on food, outreach programmes, food safety as well as some pedagogic research on the use of digital technology in teaching.
I engage regularly in consultancy work with industry and work closely with local community and business networks. I have considerable experience of working with private companies in Northern Ireland / Republic of Ireland and have made use of Invest NI and Enterprise Ireland funding to conduct research which has enabled companies to make improvements in product development and recipe specifications.
I am also involved in the Academy, Centre for food and drink and Culture at Ulster University where I led the successful validation award from the Craft Guild of Chefs and was involved in the successful application of the Green Key sustainability award. I continue to oversee the successful ‘Culinary Salon’s in the Academy promoting the use of experiential learning for Ulster University students and manage the BSc Culinary Arts Management.
Dr Sinéad Furey
Food Policy
I am passionate about applying research to solve societal problems addressing issues of global relevance but with meaningful local impact. I have been researching food policy and food insecurity (the inability to access sufficient, affordable, quality food in a way that is socially acceptable) for more than 25 years through my doctoral research, roles in the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, Education and Training Inspectorate, Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland, and now Ulster University. I continue my research efforts to understand the lived experience of food insecurity and the different advocacy and policy initiatives that have been implemented to reduce its prevalence and/or severity. Much remains to be done in order to eradicate it completely in line with the Sustainable Development Goals’ aims for Zero Hunger and No Poverty.
Ulster University is at the forefront of this research effort in Northern Ireland through meaningful collaboration with like-minded organisations and individuals who want to use independent evidence to uncover this hidden hunger on our doorsteps,
I was delighted to be the lead author of an Ulster University Business School Impact Case Study for the 2021 Research Excellence Framework on ‘Food affordability and accessibility: informing the strategic direction of NGOs, public sector bodies and retailers
Stuart Henderson
Research
My research focuses on land use, rural development and inequality. I am especially interested in interdisciplinary topics that consider the sustainability challenges of local farming and its critical role in the food chain. I have worked on projects funded by DAERA, Teagasc, the British Academy and the ESRC. I also have significant teaching experience in the areas of economics and financial services.