About

I’m a Senior Lecturer in Responsible Management at Derby International Business School, University of Derby, with 20 years of experience in executive education and enterprise development. As the School Lead for the UN Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) and Sustainability Champion, I specialise in embedding sustainability, climate literacy, and responsible leadership in business education. 

I am programme leader for the MSc Sustainable & Ethical Business Management programme and module leader, designing learning experiences that equip students with the values, knowledge, and capabilities to lead ethically and sustainably in today’s complex world. My academic work is shaped by an interdisciplinary foundation— combining environmental expertise with strategic leadership to help businesses innovate responsibly and grow sustainably. I also specialise in work-based learning to help organisations develop talent from within by applying learning directly into their roles to effect organisational change and innovation.

Before joining academia, I ran a successful learning and development consultancy, working with organisations across the UK and Ireland to support leadership development, strategy facilitation, and sustainable growth. This industry experience continues to inform my teaching and research, helping me bridge theory and practice and foster meaningful collaboration between academia and enterprise.  I work closely with leaders to develop values-based, purpose-driven leadership and sustainable innovation for responsible long-term growth.

Teaching responsibilities

I am programme leader for the MSc Sustainable & Ethical Business Management and module leader for three of the course modules focusing on responsible leadership, the case for sustainable business and sustainable & ethical strategy.  In addition, I supervise dissertation students across a number of University programmes. 

I am also programme leader for the Help to Grow programme, which is a national training course, accredited by the Small Business Charter, focusing on helping businesses to boost performance, resilience and long-term sustainable growth. 

I also have an Accreditations role where I lead on our School's membership of UN Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) and also our Carbon Literate Educate accreditations with the Carbon Literacy Project.  This involves working with staff, students and businesses to achieve climate education and Carbon Literacy credentials.  I also support the integration of sustainability, social responsibility and ethics tranversal themes of our EFMD and AACSB accreditations within the Business School.  

Research interests

My research focuses on developing frameworks and pedagogies that support leaders and practitioners in cultivating responsible mindsets and embedding sustainability into core business practices. I’m particularly interested in enabling the emergent transition beyond profit-only motives toward purpose-led strategies that prioritise environmental responsibility, regenerative leadership, and long-term value creation.

Membership of professional bodies

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2015

Qualifications

• PG Dip. Work Based Learning for HE Professionals
• M.Sc & B.Sc Hons

Experience in industry

I have worked extensively with large corporates in the private and public sector in UK and Ireland specialising in education, learning and development. This includes over 20 years of working in various roles including senior lecturer, business consultant, workforce development fellow, professional facilitator, trainer and L&D consultant, policy manager, business owner and director.   

International experience

I am a member of the UN PRME Sustainability Mindset working group and  also co-facilitator for the PRME UK & I Network Midlands chapter, to promote and support the wider embedding of responsible management principles in higher education.  I also have worked as a particiant and then mentor for the EFMD 'Mainstreaming the SDGs in Business Education' programme for a number of years.  

Recent publications

Kelleher, O. (2024) “A Transformational Attempt to embed PRME College-Wide”.  Irwin., L, Rimanoczy, I., Fritz, M, Wichert, J. Transforming Business Education for a Sustainable Future. Stories from Pioneers. Routledge