About
I am a Part-Time Senior Lecturer in Geography at The University of Liverpool and part of the Power, Space and Cultural Change research cluster.
My first monograph, The Feminist Art of Walking, will be published by Pluto this October https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745351001/the-feminist-art-of-walking/
I teach on a range of modules with a focus on urban, historical and social geographies and qualitative methods. My research interests include public space, gender and access alongside psychogeographies and walking as a political, cultural and creative tool. I joined the department immediately after finishing my Phd in Urban Studies and Planning at The University of Sheffield. My thesis title is "Women Walking Manchester: Desire Lines Through The Original Modern City."
I was Co-Investigator on Walking Publics / Walking Art: Walking Wellbeing and Community During Covid-10 aka #WalkCreate. This research project was funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and explored the potential of the arts to sustain, encourage and more equitably support walking during and recovering from a pandemic. The multi disciplinary team was led by Professor Dee Heddon at the University of Glasgow. For more details please see walkcreate.gla.ac.uk
I am currently also working with Professor Bethan Evans on projects exploring the experiences of people living with energy limiting conditions. In particular we are looking at the impact of disregard and disbelief and imagining better futures for health and social care. More information can be found here: https://disbeliefdisregard.uk/
Prior to my studentship I worked in various community development and voluntary sector infrastructure roles across Greater Manchester. This background is reflected in my commitment to equality, social justice and widening participation. It also gave me valuable experience of the importance of quality research beyond academia.
Alongside my academic career I am an established walking artist and activist. In 2006 I founded the psychogeographical collective The LRM (Loiterers Resistance Movement) and I have performed, exhibited and shared this work widely. You can hear me talk about my artistic practice in the BBC Radio 4 documentary "Art of Now: Women Who Walk" which is available via BBC Sounds https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0000nmn
I am also chair of Our Irwell, a community group dedicated to protecting, promoting and progressing public access to The River Irwell. The group formed after a success campaign to save a section of towpath at Ralli Quays, Salford more details are here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/feb/25/plan-to-build-over-salford-riverside-footpath-dropped-after-outcry