I started out doing geology at the University of Glasgow. So, I used to work with rocks. During my time as an undergraduate I had ‘a philosophical crisis’ which catapulted me into taking a Human Geography degree. After a Masters in Urban and Regional Change in Europe, at the University of Durham I embarked on a PhD. I critically examined the role of retail capital in the regeneration of Glasgow city centre. You will find the articles in Geografiska Annaler: B: Human Geography and in Urban Research and Practice. For reasons to do with the changing nature of higher education, I am now working more at the interface between human geography, politics and sociology. To this end I have published articles across a wide range of journals including Architectural Theory Review and Area. Whilst I have maintained my research focus on cities, I have also branched out into topics such as place branding, identity and governance. 

I am currently writing about globalization and the impacts that it has on the geographies of modern living in the city. 

My main desire is that my research (individual and collaborative) will become more urban focused. What sorts of challenges will cities face in the future? Who has the solutions to improve the quality of life? This will ensure that my work reaches audiences far beyond academia. It should also remain relevant, theoretically informed and methodologically robust. 

Colleagues in other universities who are interested in all things urban. Governments and organisations such as local councils who have policies to imrprove the quality of life for more of their citizens.