Senior Research Fellows
While Pivotal is independent, we are not isolated. We work hard to establish and maintain strong relationships with civic society, politicians, and policy–makers. We have also developed an academic partnership with Queens University and Ulster University.
Our Academic Partners have provided us with a network of six Senior Research Fellows to work with Pivotal on publications and research. .
Dr. Esmond Birnie
Senior Economist, Ulster University Business School.
Senior Economist at Ulster University Business School, formerly PwC’s Chief Economist in NI and Scotland (2010–16) , a Ministerial Special Advisor (2007–10), a Member of the NI Assembly (1998–2007) and Chair of its Employment and Learning Committee.
Professor George Tridimas
Professor of Political Economy at the Ulster Business School.
Professor Tridimas was educated at Athens (BA Economics) and Oxford (MPhil and DPhil Economics). Before joining the Ulster University, he served at the University of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg) and Reading.
His research interests are in Political Economy, Public Economics, and Law & Economics, combining theory, analysis of policy, applied econometrics, and an interdisciplinary element borrowing from history, political science and law. He is both a distinguished researcher and author having authored numerous research papers in peer–reviewed academic journals and edited volumes. Professor Tridimas has also served on various editorial boards
Dr Joanne Murphy
Interim Director of the William J Clinton Institute, Queens University, Management School
Dr Murphy is the Interim Director of the William J. Clinton Leadership Institute and a Senior Lecturer in Queen’s Management School. Her research explores leadership, change and organisational development in politically volatile environments. She has written extensively on policing, leadership and organisational change.
Dr. Muiris MacCarthaigh,
Senior Lecturer in Politics and Public Administration
Dr. Muiris MacCarthaigh, research engages with a variety of debates within and between political science and public sector governance. His recent work has focused on the effects of the global financial crisis on national administrative systems. He is a member of the Steering Committee of the European Group for Public Administration
Professor Deirdre Heenan
Professor of Social Policy, Ulster University.
Deirdre Heenan is a professor of social policy at Ulster University. A distinguished researcher, author and broadcaster, she is a member of the Institute for Research in Social Sciences and has published widely on healthcare, education policy, social care and devolution. She is a co–founder and former co–director of the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey.
Professor John Garry
Professor of Political Behaviour
John Garry is Professor of Political Behaviour in the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics at Queen’s University Belfast. His research interests include the study of political attitudes and democracy.