EPIC members take major roles in ISBE and RSA

The Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) and the Regional Studies Association are two of our most important research networks, providing international academic connections as well as links to policy and practice. Robert Newbery, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University, has taken up the role of President of the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) for a two-year term. As a member of Northumbria's EPIC Research Centre – an interdisciplinary group championing the distinctiveness of regions through research into entrepreneurship, place, innovation and creativity – Bob brings extensive experience in understanding how innovation and entrepreneurship relate to the places and regions in which they occur. Bob succeeds Dr Lorna Treanor (University of Nottingham) as President and will work alongside the Executive Board to further ISBE's mission of enabling excellence in small business and entrepreneurship across research, policy, practice and learning communities. ISBE is the UK's leading learned society for small business and entrepreneurship, bringing together academics, policymakers and practitioners to advance research and practice in the field.

Ignazio Cabras, Professor of Regional Economic Development at Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University, has taken up the role of Treasurer and Trustee of the Regional Studies Association (RSA) for a minimum three-year term. The Regional Studies Association is the global community for regional and urban research, development, and policy. As a learned society for regional studies, it provides an authoritative voice for researchers, students, and practitioners from disciplines including economics, geography, political science, planning, urban sociology, transport planning, and other fields. A member of Northumbria's EPIC Research Centre, Ignazio is an economic geographer whose expertise lies in understanding, evaluating, and quantifying economic growth and social development occurring across countries and regions worldwide. Ignazio succeeds Professor Sarah Ayres (University of Bristol) who took the role of Chair of the RSA and will work alongside the Executive Board to further RSA’s mission and to advance research and practice in regional studies and science.