Dr Emma Abson PhD, MA, PGCHE
Senior Lecturer
Summary
Emma's research focuses on leadership in the events industry, with a particular interest in research that encompasses leadership and gender. She has co-authored a number of leading textbooks and sits on several editorial boards, as well as being a board member for the International Association for Events Studies (IAES). She teaches across a broad range of subjects that touch on events, hospitality, tourism, leadership and management.
About
Emma is a senior lecturer, and active researcher at the University. Her research focuses on leadership in the events industry, with a particular interest in research that encompasses leadership and gender. She is also involved in a variety of research projects that focus on a range of DEI issues from both a UK and International perspective.
Emma has co-authored a leading textbook on Events Management and published her own book focussed on Event Leadership. She is a keen advocate for advancing event management research across the globe, and sits on several editorial boards for journals focuses on events, hospitality and tourism. She has recently joined the new International Association for Events Studies as a board member and is trained as a structured writing retreat facilitator.
Prior to becoming an academic, Emma had a successful career in the events industry, most notably as a head of department leading on a wide range of business to business and corporate events.
Senior Lecturer
Teaching expertise
- Events Management
Research
- Events Operations
- Group work in education
- Leadership
- Leadership Skills
Teaching
Department of Service Sector Management
College of Business, Technology and Engineering
Subject area:
- Events Management, Service Sector Management
Courses taught:
- Events Management, Festival Management, E-Sports
Research
My research focuses on leadership, gender and events though I am also involved in research on other DEI issues, and on social sustainability. I am open to exploring a range of research interests in a variety of areas.
Recent publications include:
- Abson, E., Norman, M., Schofield, P. (2023 – accepted; awaiting publication) Event leadership matters: why a shared approach might be the answer to improved working practices in events, Event Management
2022
- Bladen, C. Kennell, J. Abson, E and Wilde, N; (2022) Events Management: an introduction, 3rd Edition. Routledge
- Abson, E., Schofield, P. (2022) Exploring the antecedents of shared leadership in event organisations, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Volume 52, Pages 439-451. ISSN 1447-6770, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2022.08.003.
AEME SIG funding - Women event management students’ leadership aspirations and the realities of their leadership development in the industry - Awarded July 2023
Teaching, Learning & Student Experience Enhancement Project awarded Summer 2021
Publications
Key Publications
Bladen, C., Kennell, J., Abson, E., & Wilde, N. (2017). Events management : an introduction (2nd edition). Abingdon: Routledge.
Abson, E. (2017). How Event Managers Lead: applying competency school theory to event management. Event Management, 21 (4), 403-419. http://doi.org/10.3727/152599517X14998876105747
Journal articles
Abson, E., Schofield, P., & Kennell, J. (2024). Making shared leadership work: The importance of trust in project-based organisations. International Journal of Project Management, 42 (2). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2024.102575
Abson, E., Norman, M., & Schofield, P. (2023). Event leadership matters: why a shared approach might be the answer to improved working practices in events. Event Management. http://doi.org/10.3727/152599523x16950749084376
Abson, E., & Schofield, P. (2022). Exploring the antecedents of shared leadership in event organisations. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 52, 439-451. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2022.08.003
Abson, D.E. (2021). Event Leadership. . http://doi.org/10.23912/9781911635253-4274
Book chapters
Abson, E. (2021). What is leadership. In Event Leadership. Goodfellow Publishers: http://doi.org/10.23912/9781911635253-4859
Abson, E. (2021). Leadership as a collective process. In Event Leadership. Goodfellow Publishers: http://doi.org/10.23912/9781911635253-4863
Abson, E. (2021). Events, leadership and power. In Event Leadership. Goodfellow Publishers: http://doi.org/10.23912/9781911635253-4875
Abson, E. (2021). The new wave of leadership studies. In Event Leadership. Goodfellow Publishers: http://doi.org/10.23912/9781911635253-4872
Abson, E. (2021). Leadership as a skill. In Event Leadership. Goodfellow Publishers: http://doi.org/10.23912/9781911635253-4866
Abson, E. (2021). Classic approaches to leadership. In Event Leadership. Goodfellow Publishers: http://doi.org/10.23912/9781911635253-4867
Abson, E. (2021). Leader follower perspectives. In Event Leadership. Goodfellow Publishers: http://doi.org/10.23912/9781911635253-4876
Hawkes, D., Kennell, J., Booth, P., & Abson, E. (2016). The impact of motivation factors on spending at a public sector festivals programme. In Mathias, Á., Nijkamp, P., & Romano, J. (Eds.) Impact assessment of tourism economics. (pp. 67-80). Cham: Springer: http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14920-2_5
Abson, E. (2011). The impact of group projects on learning, teaching and assessment in a year 3 BA course. Compass
Books
Bladen, C., Group, T.F., Kennell, J., Abson, E., & Wilde, N. (2022). Events Management An Introduction. Routledge.
Abson, E. (2021). Event Leadership Theory and Methods for Event Management and Tourism.
Getz, D., Abson, E., Antchak, V., Chappelet, J.-.L., Goldblatt, J., Jutbring, H., ... Ziakas, V. (Eds.). (2021). Dictionary of Event Studies, Event Management and Event Tourism. Goodfellow Publishers. http://doi.org/10.23912/9781911635796-4695
Getz, D., Abson, E., Antchak, V., Chappelet, J.-.L., Goldblatt, J., Jutbring, H., ... Ziakas, V. (Eds.). (2021). Dictionary of Event Studies, Event Management and Event Tourism. Goodfellow Publishers. http://doi.org/10.23912/9781911635796-4695
Abson, E. (2012). Events Management: an introduction. Routledge.
Bladen, C., Kennell, J., Abson, E., & Wilde, N. (2012). Events Management: an introduction. Abingdon: Routledge.
Bladen, C., Kennell, J., Abson, E., & Wilde, N. (n.d.). Events Management. Routledge. http://doi.org/10.4324/9780203852972
Presentations
Abson, E., Kennell, J., Haynes, N., Rowley, C., & Frew, E. (2023). Investigating women’s experiences of developing leadership careers in the event industry - an international comparison. Presented at: The 6th International Conference on Events - Making Waves in Poland. Warsaw, 3-7th September 2023, Warsaw Poland
Abson, E., Kennell, J., Haynes, N., Rowley, C., & Frew, E. (2023). Investigating the enablers and barriers for women in event leadership roles. Presented at: Surrey 2023, University of Surrey
Abson, E., Haynes, N., Rowley, C., Kennell, J., & Frew, E. (2023). Exploring the perceptions of gender and career development for women in events. Presented at: AEME forum, University of Gloucester
Abson, E. (2021). No more heroes anymore – a model for the use of shared leadership in events. Presented at: AEME Forum
Abson, E. (2018). Leadership in Experiential (events) agencies. Presented at: Leisure Talks, University of Manchester
Abson, E. (2015). Introducing learning strategies to increase student engagement on a BA Event Management final year course.
Abson, E. (2014). Why leadership matters in business event management.
Booth, P., Hawkins, D., Kennel, J., & Abson, E. (2014). Managing and Evaluating Cultural Events.
Abson, E. (2014). Monitoring and evaluating cultural events.
Abson, E. (2013). A discussion and critique of the understanding of leadership in the role of an event manager.
Abson, E. (2013). A discussion and critique of the understanding of leadership in the role of an event manager.
Booth, P., Hawkes, D., Kennell, J., & Abson, E. (2013). The Economic Impact of a London Borough's Festival Programme.
Idris, J., May, D., Rowley, C., Abson, E., & Lynn, A. (n.d.). Group work selection methods and the impact on student outcomes and satisfaction. Presented at: International Conference on Events, Making New Waves in Africa: Exploring New Frontiers in Festivals and Events
Other activities
- Founding board member - International Association of Event Studies
- Editorial board member of Event Management Journal
- Organising Committee member: AEME conference 2024
- Reviewer – International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality, International Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights
- Member of AEME, BAFA, EVCOM
- Fellow of HEA, Higher Education Academy (HEA)