Engagement

Extensive academic engagement with a range of external stakeholders, with some examples provided below.

Business Engagement

Sept 2020: Keynote talk to Senior Management Team at Allstate NI: Strategy, technology and people.

2008 - 2019: Led over twenty workshops in partnership with Tesco Northern Ireland, Dunnhumby UK, Invest NI and Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. The workshops attracted up to fifty attendees from the N. Ireland food and drink sector. They focused on the role of Big Data market intelligence from Tesco Clubcard in developing the competitiveness of sectors such as Bakery, Red Meat, Dairy, Poultry and Craft Beer and Cider among others - building on research in this area.

Consultancy (Completed under auspices of Innovation Ulster Ltd – University of Ulster wholly owned technology and knowledge transfer company)

1) 2006: Irish Gourmet (E-marketing strategy)

2) 2007: Lisburn City Innovation Promoters Program (E-marketing strategy)

3) 2008: Ulster Tatler (E-marketing strategy)

4) 2008: Craft Northern Ireland (E-marketing strategy)

5) 2009: Consultus International (E-marketing strategy) – Innovation Voucher

Community Engagement

1) Board Member, Mourne Heritage Trust
 Advisory role to Management body for the Mourne Mountain Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - on their digital marketing strategy. This has included ongoing advice, input into Board meetings and involving the organisation in Professor Simmons teaching and students through the Science Shop.

2) Advisor to the Irish Football Association
Advised the Irish Football Association on digital marketing strategy involving reports and consultation with the Head of Marketing and Communications.

Media Engagement

1) Irish Times (2020): Article entitled: "Big Data key to Irish Food Industry overcoming Covid-19 challenges"

2) Irish Times (2018): Article entitled: "Global branding and the 'third industrial revolution"

3) Ulster Business Magazine 2012
Prepared a full-page article entitled: "The Times They are a-Changin'". The article considered how marketing is being radically impacted by digital technologies and how it needs to radically change to keep relevant.

4) Irish News/Belfast Telegraph/Belfast Newsletter 2011
Prepared a press release for the Belfast Telegraph/Belfast Newsletter/Irish News on the value of Tesco Clubcard data to Northern Ireland small agri-food firms - as part of the three year research project involving University of Kent/University of Ulster and dunnhumby UK funded by Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

5) BBC(NI) - British Broadcasting Corporation (NI) 2011
Interviewed live by BBC Radio Foyle about Tesco Clubcard digital market intelligence and its relevance for consumers and for small food producers - as part of the three year dunnhumby research project involving University of Kent/University of Ulster and dunnhumby UK funded by Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

6) Q-Radio 102 2011
Conducted a radio interview with Q-Radio 102 on the awarding of the Diary Council of Northern Ireland Student Bursary.

7) Irish News/Belfast Telegraph/Belfast Newsletter 2011
Prepared press release for the Irish News/Belfast Telegraph/Belfast Newsletter which launched the Diary Council of Northern Ireland Student Bursary.

8) Northern Ireland local newspapers 2011
Prepared press release for Northern Ireland newspapers (from the students' localities) on how four outstanding final year BS c Marketing students on iMarketing 2.0 module (University of Ulster) conducted high impact consultancy - working with the Science Shop - for the Mourne Heritage Trust a charitable body managing the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

9) Ulster Business Magazine 2010
Conducted an interview for a feature in the Ulster Business magazine on the relevance and impact of the MSc program of which he was Course Director.