Dr Karen Cripps
PhD, MSc, BA (Hons), FHEA, CMBE
Senior Lecturer in Leadership
Oxford Brookes Business School

Role
Karen is a Senior Lecturer in Leadership at the Business School, and a Subject Coordinator for the Business and Management single Honours programme. Karen joined Brookes in 2022, following previous Higher Education posts at Leeds Metropolitan University (now Leeds Beckett), the University of Nottingham, and the University of Winchester. She has also led on HE programmes for a partner college of Buckinghamshire New University and University College of Birmingham. She is an external examiner for Buckinghamshire New University and Plymouth Marjon University and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
With a long-established academic and teaching profile in sustainability leadership and management, Karen is committed to supporting student success and developing links to business networks and practice. She has joined the World Economic 'Global Shapers' initiative as a mentor on the 'Sustainability Leaders' programme and is a Co-Lead for the United Nations 'Principles of Responsible Management Education' (PRME) London and South East network group. Karen currently pursues teaching and research around Education for Sustainable Development and employability.
Teaching and supervision
Courses
Modules taught
- BMGT4009 Business in Society
- BMGT5026 Developing Professional Practice
- BMGT6077 Dissertation Supervision
- BMGT7065 Leading and Managing Change
Karen has a vast range of teaching experience across a large number of subject areas embracing leadership, responsible management, sustainability, HRM, international business and research methods. She has led module delivery and dissertation supervision across undergraduate and postgraduate (MSc and Executive MBA) modules.
She has acted as academic advisor on the Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship, and is currently an academic tutor for the Senior Leader and Senior People Professional Apprenticeships.
Supervision
- BMGT5027 Placements
- BMGT6077 Dissertation Supervision
- BMGT7050 Dissertation Supervision
- BMGT7028 Live Client Project Supervision
Doctoral supervision:
- 2021- Age Inclusivity/Fairness in the Workplace (DBA, PT University of Winchester)
- 2019- Sustainability Management Tools and Knowledge Networks (PhD, PT University of Winchester)
Doctoral examinations:
- Corporate Social Responsibility in the Food Industry (2022) University of Winchester
- Democratisation and Employee Ownership (2021) University of Winchester
Research
Karen's research interests focus on responsible management and leadership, and pedagogies for teaching responsible management and leadership. She is currently engaged in research into the 'sustainability mindset' and links between employability and students skills for working towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Research impact
Karen is an active member of the United Nations backed 'Principles of Responsible Management Education' (PRME), having acted as PRME Champion in her previous institution and continuing in roles as:
- Co-lead for the London and South East Regional Network Group
- Ambassador for the Sustainability Mindset Working Group (in which she also holds the Action Lab Diploma)
- Newsletter co-lead for the Climate Change and Environment Working Group
Recent Funded Projects:
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Lead Investigator: University of Winchester Research Informed Teaching Fund – Sustainability Mindset £2000 (2022)
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Lead Investigator: University of Winchester Teaching & Scholarship Development Fund – Sustainability Mindset – a tool for integrating sustainability into the curriculum - £500 (2022)
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Co-Investigator: University of Winchester Higher Education Innovation Fund - SDGs for SMEs workshop - £2000 (2021). Project PI Dr Simon Smith
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Co-Investigator: The UK India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) Mobility Programme. University of Winchester and Amity University – Virtual Exchange Programme (2021). Project PI Dr Simon Smith
Editorial Roles:
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Associate Reviewer – Journal of Tourism Futures (2022-)
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Associate Editor-in-Chief – International Journal of Business Research and Management (2021-)
Publications
Professional information
Memberships of professional bodies
- Certified Management and Business Educator (CMBE) for the Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS) (2021-)
- British Academy of Management (2021-)
- EAUC The Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education (2021-)
- Chartered Management Institute (2020-)
- Higher Education Academy (2019-)
Conferences
Conference Papers:
- Cripps, K., Rimanoczy, I. and Beres, L. (2022) ‘Sustainability Mindset: Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviours for Responsible Leadership’. The 8th Annual Conference of the UK and Ireland Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME): University of Hull
- Cripps, K. and Beres, L. (2022) ‘Education for Sustainable Development: Embedding a Sustainable Mindset’. IncludEd Higher Education for All - University of Winchester Teaching and Learning Conference
Consultancy
Karen's PhD in 'Sustainable Supply Chain Management in UK tour operations' involved a range of consultancy projects on behalf of external organisations.