Dr. Heather Ritchie
| Dr Heather Ritchie is Lecturer in Planning in the School of Natural and Built Environment, Queens University Belfast. Prior to joining QUB in May 2023, Heather was a lecturer in Spatial Planning and Energy Policy in the Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment at Ulster University, a position she held since 2009. She gained her undergraduate degree in Law from the University of Dundee. Heather then went on to complete a MSc Environmental Planning at QUB and then her PhD on Stakeholder Engagement in Marine Spatial Planning from QUB.
Heather has considerable experience in marine social science research, action research and policy appraisal in the emergent fields of coastal and marine spatial planning. Her background in Law gives her capacity to look at regulation and legislation from a variety of different perspectives. Her experience in lecturing spatial planning provides her with an understanding of current policy issues and debates. She bring academic experience to projects and has an ability to manage and mediate competing stakeholder interests. Heather is a Chartered Town Planner with the Irish Planning Institute and is a member of the Marine Planning Committee. Heather is a Committee Member of: Environmental Planners Lawyers Association Northern Ireland, Marine Spatial Planning Research Network, MarineSocSci, and Co-Secretariat Irish Sea Maritime Forum.
Research Interests: Transboundary marine spatial planning; Land-Sea interactions; Marine spatial planning and young people’s perspectives; Women and marine governance; Energy and the environment, Blue energy marine parks; Planning education; Environmental impact assessment; and Planning law and regulation at the coast and beyond.
Contact: heather.ritchie@qub.ac.uk |
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