Dr. Kempton is a leading voice in the field of local, regional and international economic development with more than 20 years of experience as a researcher, policy maker and practitioner in the field. Her research and policy development work shapes our evolving understanding of the role of universities as ‘anchor’ institutions in local/regional economic growth and innovation.

Dr. Kempton is also interested in the process of building local collaborative leadership to develop innovative solutions to meeting local challenges and opportunities. She was seconded to the Newcastle City Futures Urban Living Partnership programme from April 2017 to July 2018, which involved managing a portfolio in excess of 50 projects contributing to Newcastle’s ambition to be a smart, innovative and inclusive city.

Dr. Kempton is the author/co-author of more than 20 academic and policy publications exploring the barriers and drivers to universities’ involvement in regional innovation and has acted as adviser to a number of local, national and international organisations on the same topic, and has been instrumental in shaping new policy development.