Heseltine Institute Announces a New Co-Director

Posted on: 11 February 2022 by Mark Hargreaves in 2022 Posts

The Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place is pleased to announce that Professor Catherine Durose has been appointed as a new Co-Director, working alongside existing Co-Director Sue Jarvis.

Catherine has been appointed as Professor of Public Policy, and joins from the Institute of Local Government Studies at the University of Birmingham, where she was Director of Research and Knowledge Transfer. Catherine was awarded the Joni Lovenduski Prize for Outstanding Professional Achievement in a Mid-Career Scholar by the UK Political Studies Association in 2020.

Catherine said, “I am excited to be joining the University of Liverpool and the Heseltine Institute at this important time as we consider the post-pandemic future of cities. I look forward to working with Sue and the team, as well as building relationships across the university and city”

Catherine’s interdisciplinary research on urban governance and public policy draws on political science and urban studies. Her work has focused on how citizens and communities can be empowered to shape the policies and decisions that affect their everyday lives. This interest has informed her research on discretion, local knowledge, social and democratic innovation, policy design, and participation. In policy terms, Catherine’s research has examined how to foster creative, democratic and inclusive responses to address policy challenges, with a particular focus on urban transformation and co-production.

Co-Director, Sue Jarvis, commented “I am thrilled that Catherine is joining us. I look forward to working together to strengthen the Institute’s role in bringing together academic expertise from across the university with local policy-makers to inform and impact the most critical challenges facing cities and city regions.”

Catherine has been involved in securing and delivering research awards in excess of £3 million, from a diverse range of funders. Her highly cited research has recently been published in leading journals such as Political Studies, Public Administration Review, Governance and Urban Studies. Catherine has also written widely for policy and practice audiences along with prestigious invitations to contribute to interdisciplinary debate, notably in Nature.

Professor Durose is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, with extensive teaching experience specialising in working with practitioners seeking to advance their public service careers through post-graduate education and continuing professional development.

In addition to her research and teaching, Catherine has held International Visiting Fellowships at universities in Australia, the Netherlands, Spain and the US. Catherine has wide-ranging experience as a mentor, and has provided institutional leadership on equality, diversity and inclusion. Catherine has also consulted widely, including to the UK government and Equality and Human Rights Commission. She is currently Chair of the Editorial Board of Local Government Studies.