Professor Sarah Ashwin opens the inaugural Festival of Management
On Monday 12 May, LSE’s Department of Management held its inaugural Festival of Management, a special one-day showcase of the fascinating research of our junior faculty and on the role of professional services staff (PSS) in higher education.
The Festival was split across two streams, one for Faculty, PhD and Research colleagues, and another for PSS colleagues.
The faculty stream programme included presentations on important management themes from junior faculty across all the department’s Faculty Research Groups. Each presentation was followed by a faculty integrator who tied the topics to wider management themes across the department.
“I was delighted to see our fantastic juniors presenting outstanding research,” Professor Sarah Ashwin, the Department of Management’s Head of Department, commented. “I was also thrilled to witness a burgeoning culture of mutual appreciation across our different faculty groups, which I hope is the beginning of exciting cross-disciplinary conversations.”
The faculty stream was joined by special guest Professor Bob Gibbons, the Sloan Distinguished Professor of Management and Professor of Applied Economics at the MIT Sloan School of Management, who chaired the faculty stream and acted as a key integrator.
The Professional Services Stream included presentations on The Evolution of Professional Services Staff to Support the Modern University, PSS & Faculty Collaboration, and Sustaining HE Institutions Through a Focus on People.
The Professional Services stream featured a keynote from Dr Thea Gibbs, Chair of the Association of Higher Education Professionals.
Reflecting on the day David Meech Mazumdar, Department Manager – Strategic Planning & Development, said: “The Festival of Management was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to step away from their desks and reflect. Professional Services staff attended sessions on research and practice both within the department and across the sector.”
The level of engagement was incredible and something I think we can build on in future years,” David continued. “A huge thank you to our in-house PSS presenters, Paulette Annon and Dr Stephanie Lambert for their insightful presentation - and to Thea Gibbs, Chair of the Association for Higher Education Professionals, for sharing her findings on relationship efficiency. What an incredible day!”
Wednesday 28 May 2025