Linking theory and politics – my first two books The Managerial State (with John Clarke, 1997) and Gender, Culture and Organisational Change (with Cathy Itzin, 1995) were early examples. The links between theory building and politics were carried into my early analysis of New Labour (Modernising Governance, 2001). More recently the Publics Research Group at the Open University has opened up collaborative theory building informed my strong political commitments to publics and publicness.

Enjoying working across the academic/practitioner boundary – and trying to ensure that those involved in public and policy work can find things of value in what I teach and write. This stems from my own career path – I worked for some 20 years in local government before becoming an academic. It flowed through my work at the University of Birmingham where I co-directed the Public Service MBA and designed and led a number of cross sector public leadership programmes. My research on public policy and governance draws extensively on practitioner perspectives. And I am currently involved in a research/practitioner network developing a ‘New Synthesis’ in Public Administration (www.ns6newsynthesis.com).

Supporting the work of young and ‘early career’ researchers, both within and beyond the academy. I enjoy teaching regular summer schools for both doctoral students and for students of public policy and management across Europe. A recent publication celebrates the work of one group of doctoral and post doctoral researchers (Mahony, Newman and Barnett, eds, 2010: Policy Press).

Current posts
Emeritus Professor, Faculty of Social Science, The Open University
Visiting Professor, Social Policy, University of Bath
Visiting Professor, Department of Intercultural Communication and Management, Copenhagen Business School

Qualifications
BA (Hons) Ist class 1981
PhD 1990
Associate of the Library Association 1969

Career summary
2002-2010 Professor of Social Policy, the Open University
2007-2010 Director of the Publics Research Group, Centre for Citizenship, Identities and Governance, the Open University
1998-2002 Lecturer/senior lecturer, School of Public Policy, the University of Birmingham
1988-1992 Lecturer, Coventry Polytechnic Business School
1985-1988 Tutor, Women and Work Programme, University of Aston
1962-1985 Professional and managerial posts, Birmingham City Council