Dr Micaela Mazzei is a Reader at the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, Glasgow Caledonian University. She holds a PhD in human geography from Durham University and an MA (Econ) in Applied Social Research from the University of Manchester. Dr Mazzei leads the MSc Social Innovation and Social Innovation with Professional Practice programmes at GCU and she is currently the RSA (Regional Studies Association) Scotland Section Chair, member of the Editorial Board member of VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Non-profit Organisations and visiting Senior Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg. Micaela’s interest in social innovation and social economy is threefold: understanding the contextual determinants of the social economy, social enterprise development and performance; understanding the dynamics of local (and regional) economies – through the lens of a diverse economy approach; and the involvement of voluntary and community organisations in delivery of public services.
Among her expertise, she is currently leading on exploratory research on the development and implementation of Community Wealth Building in Scotland (RSE funded). She was the principal researcher for the national team of the EFESEIIS (Enabling the Flourishing and Evolution of Social Entrepreneurship for Innovation and Inclusive Societies) project (EU FP7). She was work package coordinator for the Common Good First project (Erasmus Plus) to support and grow the emerging South African social innovation sector, capturing and showcasing social impact projects in South Africa. She also led the assessment of the progress to date of the Strategic Public Social Partnership model in Scotland (Scottish Government funded) and the consultation with key stakeholders on social enterprise business support awareness and perceptions (Scottish Enterprise/Social Value Lab).
Dr Mazzei was also a supervisor/advisor on the research teams of the Common Health Project (MRC/ESRC funded) on the role of social enterprise as a public health initiative. She has extensively researched issues of social economies and of social exclusion in northern English city regions (Greater Manchester and Tyne and Wear) both as an academic and a consultant for a think-tank in Manchester (Centre for Local Economic Strategies).
Dr Mazzei has also extensive experience of evaluating place-based regeneration programmes, as well as contributing to the revision of Indices of Multiple Deprivation (Wales) while working at the Centre for Urban Policy Studies, University of Manchester.