connecting postgraduates in geography

Chair (2011-12)
Cheryl Willis

Cheryl is a PhD candidate in the Geography department at Exeter University. Her research is funded through the ESRC as a CASE studentship with Dorset County Council and aims to explore approaches to valuing the natural environment in Dorset’s tourist areas. Cheryl has an interest in tourism development and in local participation in development processes and she has experience in both areas through her work in the UK and in Peru. Most recently, Cheryl has worked for Local Authorities on rural development and Third Sector policy. Cheryl is married with a two and half year old daughter so family life and ‘creative’ activities take over when work finishes!

Secretary
Jonathan Cooper

Jonathan is a PhD candidate in the School of Built and Natural Environment at the University of Central Lancashire. His research focusses on geographies of energy and the role of nuclear energy in the low carbon transition. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Sustainable Development from the University of St Andrews. In his spare time, Jonathan enjoys hill walking and fly fishing, especially in his home county of Angus.

Social Coordinator
Stacey Coppock

Stacey is a PhD candidate at the University of Nottingham. She has a BA in Geography from the University of Plymouth, and a PGDip in Nature, Society and Rurality from the University of Exeter. Her CASE studentship is funded by the Commission for Rural Communities and her research examines changes in the provision of financial services in rural communities in England. Stacey has previously worked as a Research Assistant at the Commission for Rural Communities and at SERIO (Socio-economic Research Intelligence Observatory), an independent research consultancy based at the University of Plymouth, carrying out research for charities, central and local government, and local businesses. In her spare time, Stacey likes to volunteer at her local credit union, run and travel to Morocco for some well-deserved relaxation.

Webmaster
Martin Jones

Martin is a PhD candidate at the Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences at Aberystwyth University. His Sport Wales-funded Ph.D research on the cultures and governance of walking centres on the Wales-wide Let's Walk Cymru scheme, and traces walking knowledge and practice from a range of institutional and cultural perspectives, in part to identify embodied, organisational and cultural practices linked to participation in walking. Martin received both his BA in Human Geography and MA in Practising Human Geography from Aberystwyth. Unsurprisingly Martin is a keen walker, hiker, rambler, ambler and saunterer, as well as an evangelist and user of open-source software.

Web Content Manager
Siyun Dai

Siyun Dai is a postgraduate student in the department of Geography at University College London. Her subject is Globalisation and will focus her emphasis on the effects to geo-economics which caused by globalisation. She got her BA(hon) degree in International Business Management from the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China. This is the first time she comes to UK and now she is enjoying her new life in London.

Treasurer
Yue Wang

Yue Wang is a PhD candidate in the School of Environment and Development (SED) at The University of Manchester. Her research is funded by the SED Postgraduate Research Studentship and the Universities China Committee in London Research Grant. Yue’s research focuses on one of the outstanding changes resulting from the procurement activities of leading retail transnational corporations (TNCs) - the local supply chain transformations and upgrades in China. Before she moved to the UK to pursue her PhD study, she had two-year work experience in a wholly foreign-owned company as a financial consultant in Shanghai, China, which made her become interested in taking the role of Treasurer. Currently Yue is conducting interviews with leading retailers and local suppliers in China, and also enjoying her family life at the same time.

PGF-ACTS Co-ordinator (2011)
Rosie Emeny

Rosie Emeny is a PhD candidate in the Department of Geography at The University of Sheffield. Prior to beginning her PhD, she gained a BA (Hons) in Geography and a MA in Human Geography Research also from The University of Sheffield. Rosie’s doctoral research aims to consider how people engage with the countryside through things, specifically focusing on how the car is used to engage with rural space. Rosie’s research interests include theories of practice, material culture, landscape phenomenology, mobilities and performance theories, with her work always prioritising rural contexts. Having organised departmental post-graduate events and PGF activities (formerly as PGF Chair) Rosie brings this practical experience (and lots of enthusiasm!) to co-ordinating the PGF’s new venture.

Annual Conference Session Co-ordinator
Sophie Yarker

Sophie Yarker is a PhD candidate in the Centre for Urban and Regional Studies (CURDS) at Newcastle University. Her PhD is a study of urban change and the impacts of this on the sense of place and identity of the local community, using the case study of the Grade II listed social housing development, the Byker Wall estate in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The study comes out of a combined interest in narratives of heritage, urban regeneration and wider development paradigm of social and community wellbeing. Having completed her undergraduate studies in Sociology and Social policy at Newcastle, Sophie was employed for four years as a research project manager for a local market research company. It was during this time that she returned to the university part time to complete her masters in Regional Development Research within CURDS. In her spare time Sophie enjoys running, photography and has recently discovered baking!

Annual Conference Session Co-ordinator
Keri Jenner