Academic economist and freelance writer. Writes on economic and social issues, including for The Conversation and the Huffington Post - with articles also published by the BBC, the 'i' newspaper and The Telegraph (online) - and on skateboarding and wider pop-cultural topics, principally for Caught in the Crossfire.
Projects
- Josh Kalis: Shiny VVs glowin' in your ear; New (shoe), new jewels, new album, new yearA tribute piece on legendary street skateboarder Josh Kalis, marking the re-release of his first shoe on DC and celebrating a 20 year+ impeccable career with no signs of slipping. "The king who leads from the battlefield...." Produced for the online streetwear and active lifestyle retailer SuperEight and shared on social media by DC Shoes.
- Fashion and the Cringification of Skateboarding: Vogue Magazine's 'Skate Week'An article for Caught in the Crossfire reacting to Vogue Magazine's 2016 'skate week' feature, discussing the formation and appropriation of identity, popular culture and the reinforcements of social norms - drawing on ideas from Michel Foucault's theory of the 'Panopticon', Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World' and JG Ballard's 'Highrise'. Widely shared on social media, including by www.sidewalkmag.com Illustration by Steve Larder: http://www.stevelarder.co.uk/
- Skating the Rainbow: Brian Anderson and Skateboarding, Sexuality and Gender in 2016An article responding to the decision by Brian Anderson to publicly come out via a short film with Vice Sports. With input from Claire Alleaume, who interviewed Marie Dabaddie, founder of genderqueer zine Xem Skates, this discusses skateboarding's attitude towards sexual orientation and gender - particularly looking at the language used by skaters, in the context of sexism and homophobia in popular culture and sports more widely. Art work by George Yarnton and Marc Johns.
- Losers and Awkward Socializers: Commercialisation versus 'Post-Capitalism' in SkateboardingAn article for Brooklyn-based skate and music website Buried Muse, starting with the challenge of the expansion of mega-brands into a formerly niche industry and then going on to explore optimistic ideas of 'quasi-economic', lifestyle branding or micro-activism in the explosion of small independent brands that often have a clear social purpose - such as The Northern Company and Magenta Skateboards.
- Up River with Weed Socks: YouGov Profiles and Representations of Skateboarding in the Mainstream MediaArticle for Caught in the Crossfire exploring how skateboarding and other counter cultural activities are represented in the mainstream media, assessing the influence of class politics and elitism. Sources include the YouGov consumer market profiles and the Cabinet Office 'Elitist Britain' research. Illustration by George Yarnton: http://www.georgeyarnton.co.uk/
- Skateboarding in the 2020 OlympicsA carefully researched article for Caught in the Crossfire web magazine exploring the potential benefits and risks of skateboarding's inclusion in the Olympics (confirmed just prior to the opening of the Rio Games). Widely shared on social media and by key content platforms, including www.sidewalkmag.com and www.kingpinmag.com, and attracting comments from the President of the World Skateboarding Federation. Illustration by George Yarnton: http://www.georgeyarnton.co.uk/
Work history
Specialist Researcher
Nottingham, United KingdomFull Time
Senior Research Fellow in the Economics Division of Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University (NTU). Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and divisional Learning & Teaching Coordinator. Specialises in labour market research, including education, migration, gender and age, and local and urban economic development. Undertakes projects on a consultancy basis for NTU and freelance writing where no conflict exists with primary job role.
Skills
- TV
- Research
- Report Writing
- Excel
- Office
- Powerpoint
- Word
- Economics
- Skateboarding
- Research and Analysis
- Social Sciences
- Write Web Content
- Urban Development
- Regeneration
- Journalism Writing