Debbie’s current research interests include the evaluation of events through the Framework for Assessing Major Events (F.A.M.E.), social impacts of events, urban regeneration opportunities from events, stakeholder management, and legacy planning.
Other activities include being part of the ESRC-funded Sports Tourism initiative (STORMING) to undertake research into Sports Tourism opportunities and challenges, and the FestiM project using social media to measure event reach.
More recent research has been into volunteer management and educational opportunities to be gained from mega events.
Debbie is the Lead Academic on Festival Maker Volunteer Programme in conjunction with BCP Council, and an advisor to the British Council around the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games educational programmes.
Debbie has travelled extensively and given lectures and presentations in Europe as well as Australia, USA, South Africa, Vietnam, China and Japan. She was also a torchbearer for the London 2012 Olympics.
Her media experience includes live interviews on radio and speaking about the impact of council-run events on BBC’s Sunday Politics show.