Professor awarded MBE for services to education and place management
A professor of retail and marketing enterprise has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday honours.
Professor Cathy Parker is one of the leading authorities on place management and high street change, with more than 20 years’ experience researching and helping high streets.
She has been awarded the honour for services to education and place management.
Prof Parker heads up the University’s Institute of Place Management which is leading the Government’s High Streets Task Force which helps communities to transform their high streets so that they can thrive and survive as they manage changing economic conditions and consumer behaviour.
Her research has focused on the changing nature of our district town and city centres, working with residents, small and medium-sized enterprises, local authorities, place managers, and other local organisations in those areas to bring about positive change.
Prof Parker was awarded a Chair in Marketing and Retail Enterprise in 2007 and was the founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Place Management and Development.
She said: “I am absolutely gobsmacked to find out that I have been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for my contribution to education and place management.
“But I shouldn’t be surprised - because this award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the whole of IPM, both the team that work with me at Manchester Metropolitan University, and all our members who strive to make their local places better.
“I am so grateful for the support and encouragement of all those who have helped create and grow the IPM, the Journal of Place Management and Development, our MSc programme in Place Management and Leadership, as well as the amazing partners we work with on projects such as the High Streets Task Force. On a personal note, none of my professional achievements would have been possible without the understanding and support of my family and friends. I would also like to thank the people that nominated me, the Prime Minister for putting my name forward, and the King for giving me this honour.
“I am truly humbled and I look forward to continuing to make a positive impact on places through helping even more place leaders and place partnerships make the changes they want to see.”
Prior to the High Streets Task Force, Prof Parker won and managed more than £10 million in research and consultancy projects. This included the successful High Streets UK 2020 project, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, to identify the factors that make a difference to the vitality and viability of town centres.
She led on the UK Government-commissioned report ‘High Street 2030: Achieving Change’, which led to the creation of the High Streets Task Force.
Prof Parker is the author of more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and competitive conference papers, where her research in the REF2021 was recognised as ‘world-leading’. She has also been a prominent public speaker, appearing frequently on high-profile national TV and radio, discussing the issue and opportunities facing the UK’s high streets.
