About

My main interests are sustainable business, system leadership and how people learn to become leaders. I lead the Low Carbon Business Network which supports pro-environmental SMEs across the East Midlands and the ERDF funded DE-Carbonise business project that is working with SMEs to decarbonise their operations and develop sustainable supply chains. My advisory roles include: membership of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership Energy Strategy Group (2018-) and the D2N2 LEP Low Carbon Advisory Committee (2014-2018).

My research activity is focused upon enterprise support for pro-environmental business, the skills and qualities required to lead the transition to a sustainable future and how businesses and other organisations collaborate to accelerate the shift towards a low carbon economy.

I am also interested in how people learn to become high performing professionals and leaders. I have worked with a host of talented leaders in public and private sector organisations and believe passionately in the link between our motivation and ability to learn and the potential we exhibit as leaders. 

My research explores how people lead beyond the remit of their own organisation to fulfil common purposes; in public services, in supply chains and in particular, with people working collaboratively to create a sustainable future and low carbon economy.

Teaching responsibilities

• PhD/DBA Supervisor
• Module Leader for MSc Sustainable and Ethical Business Management
• Invited lecturer on sustainable business on a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate Modules
• Research Methods supervision for Independent Studies postgraduate dissertations

Professional interests

I lead on Sustainable Business and the Green Economy for the Business Improvement Research Cluster. This involves coordinating the interests of various staff and research students through an active research forum.

I am Project Lead for the DE-Carbonise business project which is an ERDF funded project that works with SMEs to decarbonise their operations and develop sustainable supply chains. Alongside this, I lead the Low Carbon Business Network that supports the interests of all pro-environmental SMEs across the region - see www.lowcarbonbusiness.net for more details. Leading this Network involves  coordinating with a variety of regional bodies that include local Councils, Chamber of Commerce, Local Enterprise Partnership, skills providers and non-governmental organisations.

My specialist interests:

• Sustainable business
• Systems innovation, sustainability and change leadership
• Leadership Learning - coaching, action learning and communities of practice
• Research and knowledge transfer - strategy, project design and implementation.

Research interests

I lead a host of research activities associated with the Low Carbon Business Network which include mapping the growth of the Low Carbon Sector in the D2N2 region, developing the evidence for the impact of the Project as part of the University's preparation for the next Research Excellence Framework submission as well as studying the features of enterprise support for pro-environmental business.

My personal research focuses upon the role that leadership plays in supporting sustainable transformation.

Writers and researchers that have influenced my understanding and practice of leadership and learning include: Christiana Figueres, Sara Parkin, Ronald Heifetz, Edgar Schein, Margaret Wheatley, Peter Senge, Deborah Ancona, Tom Peters, Warren Bennis, Nancy Mohr and John Whitmore.

I have extensive experience in qualitative and collaborative research methods – and the use of software (such as Nvivo) as an aid to qualitative data analysis.

Membership of professional bodies

• Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Member of the British Academy of Management

Qualifications

• PhD in professional learning - University of Nottingham. 1999
• MEd Open Programme - University of Sheffield. 1992
• Postgraduate Certificate of Education - Kingston Polytechnic. 1987
• BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering - University of Nottingham. 1983

Recent conferences

• Paterson, F (2019) Accelerating the Shift to a Low Carbon Economy. Instituto Politecnico Nacional. Mexico City. October 2019
• Paterson, F. (2019) Building a dynamic model of change for sustainability leadership. British Academy of Management Conference, University of Aston, Birmingham. September 2019
•  Paterson, F (2018) Leadership for Sustainability. British Academy of Management. Responsible and Sustainable Business SIG. Feb 2018
• Paterson, F. & Baranova, P. (2018) Competitiveness through responsible supply chains and resource efficiency: A regional outlook. Derby, East Midlands Chamber of Commerce
• Paterson, F (2014) Accelerating the shift to a Low Carbon Economy: What kind of local leadership do we need? Sustainable Innovation Conference. Copenhagen. November 2014
• Paterson, F., Delight, P. & Carlier, J (2014) Conversation in the round – group learning through interactive dialogue with experienced witnesses. Derby University Learning and Teaching Conference
• Sutherland, S & Paterson, F (2011) Creating an online network for school leaders in England. Presented at KMUK Conference, London. June 2011
• Paterson, F & Ireson, G (2010) Taking a Local Solutions approach to a national challenge, BELMAS. Warwick. October 2010

Experience in industry

For most of my career I have worked in public sector organisations: Schools, Local Authorities, Universities and the National College for School Leadership where I held senior roles in research and leadership development for ten years in the schools and Children’s Services sectors as well as in the private sector.

Before my role at University of Derby, I was Head of Knowledge and Learning and a senior researcher at the National College for School Leadership between 2001-2011; where I was a Lead Coach and co-authored 'Leading Coaching in Schools'. I was also an Associate of the Virtual Staff College (who provide leadership development nationally for Directors of Children's Services) where I co-facilitated the national Mentor Induction for Directors of Children's Services Programme and provided coaching and action learning training for senior managers in several local authorities in the East of England.

I also run my own consultancy (Accelerate the Shift) which is a social enterprise dedicated to creating a healthier, fairer and more sustainable future through collaborative learning experiences.

Recent publications

• Paterson, F., Baranova, P. & Gallotta, B. (2020). 'Pro-environmental business and clean growth trends for the East Midlands 2020'. Derby: University of Derby
• Baranova, P., Paterson, F., Gallotta, B. (2020). 'Configuration of enterprise support towards the clean growth challenge: a place-based perspective'. Local Economy, pp. 1-25
• Paterson, F et al. (2018)' Key skills and training needs of the D2N2 low carbon and environmental goods and services (LCEGS) sector'. Abridged final version. Derby: University of Derby
• Knight, B & Paterson, F (2018) 'Behavioural competencies of sustainability leaders: An empirical investigation', Journal of Organizational Change Management. Vol. 31 Issue: 3, pp.557-580
• Baranova, P and Paterson, F (2017) 'Environmental capabilities of small and medium sized enterprises: Towards transition to a low carbon economy in the East Midlands.', Local Economy: The Journal of the Local Economy Policy Unit', Local Economy, 32 (8), pp. 835-853
• Paterson, F (2017) Leadership and the Low Carbon Economy in Baranova, Conway, Lynch & Paterson. The low carbon economy: Understanding and supporting a sustainable transition. London. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Pearce, W & Paterson, F (2017) The influence of policy, public service and local politics on the shift to a Low Carbon Economy in the East Midlands in Baranova et al. (ibid.)
• Paterson, F & Delight, P (2015) A study into how senior leaders learn to lead from experience. Critical Perspectives in Business Management Journal. University of Derby
• Sutherland, S & Paterson, F (2012) Creating an online network for school leaders in England. in Making knowledge management work for your organization, (Ed) Hawley, T. London, Ark
• Creasy, J & Paterson, F (2005) Leading Coaching in Schools, Nottingham, NCSL
• Paterson, F & West-Burnham, J (2005) Developing Beginning Leadership in Southworth, G & Coles, M (Eds) Developing Leadership. Maidenhead. Open University Press