Dr Laura Hirst

Research Fellow

School: Geography and Natural Sciences

Dr Laura Hirst is a Research Fellow in Human Geography Policy and Development at the Centre for Global Development (CGD) of Northumbria University, where she contributes to research and projects as part of the Northumbria Peak of Research Excellence on Volunteering, Humanitarian Crises and Development.

Drawing on an academic background in anthropology and geography, her PhD research explored fire risk and disaster justice in Nairobi, as part of an ESRC CASE studentship with Operation Florian, a UK fire and rescue humanitarian organisation. Through this collaboration, she contributes to ongoing research with volunteer and professional emergency services in Lebanon and Macedonia.

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Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Fire Safety in Informal Settlements: A Gendered Framework of Fire Justice, Hirst, L., Underhill, H. 1 May 2025, In: Fire Technology
Diversifying governance of fire risk and safety in informal settlements, Underhill, H., Hirst, L., Antonellis, D., Gibson, L., Vaiciulyte, S. Jul 2024
A comparative study of fire risk emergence in informal settlements in Dhaka and Cape Town, Antonellis, D., Hirst, L., Twigg, J., Vaiciulyte, S., Faisal, R., Spiegel, M., Faller, G., Walls, R., Flores, N., Messerschmidt, B. 2022
Fire risk reduction on the margins of an urbanizing world, Rush, D., Bankoff, G., Cooper-Knock, S., Gibson, L., Hirst, L., Jordan, S., Spinardi, G., Twigg, J., Walls, R. 27 Nov 2020, In: Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal
Critical urban learning through participatory photography, Frediani, A., Hirst, L. 25 Nov 2016, Engaged Urbanism, London, Bloomsbury

Qualifications