Skip to main content

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Menu Search


Trinity College Dublin By using this website you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with the Trinity cookie policy. For more information on cookies see our cookie policy.

      
Profile Photo

Dr. Susan Murphy

Associate Professor in Development Pract (Geography)
MUSEUM BUILDING

Associate Professor in Development Pract (School Office - Natural Sciences)


I am an Associate Professor in Development Practice and teach Gender and Development, Climate Justice, and Development Practice. My research interests are in international development ethics, policy, and practice, issues in governance and justice, human rights and climate change, and gender and social inclusion. I am the Principal Investigator of GEOFORMATIONS: the geographies of dynamic governance assemblages in development cooperation civil society spaces, funded by the European Research Council (ERC-2022-STG), and research group leader for the Climate and Environmental Justice lab, supervising masters by research and Ph.D. candidates in national and international climate and environmental justice-related projects. As part of my work, I have managed the design and delivery of 200+ international research projects in countries across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, and over 150+ research projects with International Development NGOs in Ireland. Internal roles include Director of Trinity International Development Initiative (TIDI); Geography PG Coordinator; University Council Representative for STEM; College International Committee; School of Natural Sciences Research Ethics Committee, Postgraduate Teaching and Learning Committee, Athena SWAN School SAT; and College Tutor. External roles include Department of Foreign Affairs Audit Committee (2021-2024); UCC External Examiner for BSc in International Development (2019-2023); Chair of the Board of Trustees - Oxfam Ireland (2016-2023) & Board of Supervisors, Oxfam International (2018-2021); BISA Ethics and World Politics Co-conveyor (2019-2023); Scientific Committee Member, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (ICSD since 2014); Previously served on steering committees of Future Earth Ireland, COALITION 2030 & Development Studies Association of Ireland. I complete my Ph.D. as a doctoral scholar at University College Dublin School of Politics and International Relations on the ethics of development and humanitarian action. Before this, I spent ten years working as a Manager with Accenture, leading large-scale technology infrastructure outsourcing projects across EMEAI. My research and teaching bring to bear over twenty-five years of management and professional experience, both within the University and in Industry.
  Africa   CLIMATE CHANGE   Developing/Underdeveloped Nations   Equality rights   Ethics and International Assistance   GENDER   Gender and leadership   Gender issues in social development   Gender related policy issues in Ireland   Human rights   Humanitarian Theory   International Affairs   International development   International/Global Development   JUSTICE   Paris Climate Agreement   Political Theory   Sustainable Development   Theories of Global Justice   UN Sustainable Development Goals
 GEOFORMATIONS
 Gender Awareness and Transformation through Education
 Transforming gender relations through climate action planning
 Gender Awareness and Transformation through Education
 FOREST

Page 1 of 2
Details Date
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Audit Committee 2021
Chair, Oxfam Ireland 2018
UCC External Examiner, BSc in International Development 2019
Chair, Oxfam International Governance Reform 2019-2021
Board of Trustees - Oxfam International 2018
LERU Ad Hoc Working Group on University Development Cooperation and the SDGs - University Representative on Development Co-operation 2018
Scientific Committee Member - Sustainable Development Solutions Network, International Conference on Sustainable Development 2013
External Reviewer - Review of the BSc International Development and Food Policy programme in the Department of Food Business and Development, University College Cork (UCC). 2017/2018
Academic Representative - COALITION 2030 on the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2018
Programme and Project Impact and Evaluation Committee, Oxfam Ireland 2016
Invited Reviewer - Moral Philosophy and Politics 2017
Ireland's Engagement with the UN Sustainable Development Goals - Stakeholder Forum 2018
AURORA Role Model 2017
Invited Reviewer - Routledge Studies in International Development Ongoing
Scientific Committee Member - Future Earth Ireland 2016
Invited Journal Reviewer - Journal of Development Studies 2019
Invited reviewer - Journal of Modern Africa Studies 2018
PhD Examiner (Internal) 2017
PhD Progressional Panel Assessor 2016
Language Skill Reading Skill Writing Skill Speaking
French Basic Basic Basic
German Basic Basic Medium
Details Date From Date To
European Association of Development Institutes and Research Centers (EADI) 2021 Present
British International Studies Association - Co-convener of the Ethics and World Politics working group 2019 Present
Geographical Society of Ireland 2020 Present
Development Studies Association Ireland 2012 Present
UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network 2014 Present
International Development Ethics Association 2015 Present
North American Society for Social Philosophy 2016 Present
COALITION 2030 2017 Present
Future Earth Ireland Committee Member 2016 2018
Trinity International Development Initiative Steering Committee 2012 2020
The relationship between Gender and Poverty in, editor(s)Gottfried Schweiger (Salzburg) and Clemens Sedmak (Salzburg and Notre Dame, IN) , Handbook of Philosophy and Poverty, Routledge, 2023, [Susan P. Murphy], Book Chapter, ACCEPTED
Breffka, E., Jagoe, C., Murphy, S.P. and Tsegaw, B.B.,, Restricted participation: Drivers, experiences and implications of disability stigma in Ethiopia, African Journal of Disability, 11, 2023, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  URL
Moses, Ikupa; Murphy, Susan P.; Urio, Perpetua, GENDER EQUALITY PRACTICES IN HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS IN TANZANIA: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES , Women's Studys International Forum, 2023, Journal Article, ACCEPTED
Mwakitalu, A., Murphy, S.P., Roche, J., An Exploration of Female Academics: Opportunities for Career Progression into Leadership Roles in Tanzanian Higher Learning Institutions, Asian Studies International Journal, 9th International Conference on Gender & Women"s Studies, National University of Singapore Society, July 2022, 2022, pp73 - 81, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED  URL  Other
Mwakitalu, A., Murphy, S.P., Roche, J., Exploring Female Academics Underrepresentation in Senior Leadership Positions: case of Public and Private Universities in Tanzania, ICSD, International Conference in Sustainable Development, On line with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, September 2022, edited by Scientific Panel of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network , 2022, pp1 - 9, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  URL
Susan P. Murphy, The relationship between poverty and prosperity: a feminist relational account, Journal of Global Ethics, 18, (1), 2022, p82 - 99, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
SP Murphy, Cannon, S, Walsh, L, Just Transition Frames: Recognition, representation, and distribution in Irish beef farming, Journal of Rural Studies, 94, 2022, p150 - 160, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI  URL
Susan P. Murphy, Hard borders and soft agreements: Evaluating governance within the Global Compact for Migration, Third World Quarterly, 2022, p1 - 18, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Murphy, Susan P. , Climate change and political (in)action: an intergenerational epistemic divide?, Sustainable Environment, 7, (1), 2021, p1 - 13, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
Thomas L. Roux, Mirjam M. Heinen, Susan P. Murphy, Conor J. Buggy,, A Unified Theoretical Framework of Learning Theories to Inform and Guide Public Health Continuing Medical Education Research and Practice, Journal of Continuing Education in Health Professionals, 2021, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
  

Page 1 of 5
Susan P. Murphy; Perpetua Urio (Eds), Transforming Academia: A Gender-Inclusive Approach to Education in Tanzania, 1, UK, Routledge Studies on Gender and Sexuality in Africa, 2024, Book, ACCEPTED
Susan P. Murphy, Enida Friel, Catherine Devine, Mariana Roberts, Innovative solutions to address the humanitarian-development nexus : Review of the pilot introduction of the Blended Approach at GOAL , Ireland, goalglobal.org, 2020, Notes: [Findings suggest that the 'blended approach' offers a strong possibility to enhance and deepen the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of the organisation's programming over time. Most specifically, the areas of joint programming and flexible funding allow for significantly increased adaptability in responding to context-specific needs. Thus, the approach is well-suited to fragile contexts, areas of acute crises and conflict, as well as areas with high number of both Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees. The time-saving potential of unified reporting, monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems was also noted as a key benefit of this shift, enabling greater efficiency in the design, planning, and management of programmes. However, the review finds that further efforts are required to embed this way of working and thinking into project design, monitoring, evaluating, reporting and learning structures to reap the full benefits offered by this approach. Also, organisational ethos and approach to practice are important determinants of effectiveness.], Report, PUBLISHED
Christopher Chevallier, Susan Murphy, Conor Buggy, Understanding the Lived Experiences of Gender Minority Students in Irish Third-Level Education: Steps Towards Achieving Safety and Inclusion, Dublin, National LGBTQI Federation (NXF), January , 2020, Notes: [The document contains important statistics on Ireland's gender minority population, as well as policy recommendations for higher education, LGBTQI+ medical care, hate crime legislation, and legal reform. Outside of this, it also provides a list of considerations for tutors and supervisors of gender minority students. ], Report, PUBLISHED
Susan P. Murphy, What is the relationship between poverty and prosperity?, DBEI ILO NUI Conference Marking the Centenary of th ILO, Dublin Castle, 17 September 2019, 2019, National University of Ireland, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Susan P. Murphy, Knowledge sharing and transfer for global solidarity , International Women's Day, Aras an Uachtarain, 8 March 2019, 2019, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
Susan P. Murphy, Whole of Society Approach to Africa-Europe Development Cooperation in the HEI sector, Whole of Society Approach to Development Cooperation , Brussels, April, 2019, European Commission Political Strategy Unit, Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Susan P. Murphy, The Gender-Climate-Conflict Nexus, exploring intersections within research, Bridging Theory and Practice. Intersections of Climate Change, Conflict and Gender, Georgetown University Institute for Women Peace and Security, March 2019, 2019, GU IWPS, Invited Talk, PUBLISHED
Benn Finlay Hogan, ML Rhodes, Susan P Murphy, Mary Lawlor, IRISH BUSINESS & HUMAN RIGHTS: Benchmarking compliance with the UN Guiding Principles, Dublin, IRL, Centre for Social Innovation, Trinity College Dublin, November, 2019, Report, PUBLISHED
Susan P. Murphy, Reflections on Ireland's performance on the Sustainable Development Goals, Launch of the Coalition 2030 shadow report on Ireland and the Sustainable Development Goals, Royal College of Physicans Ireland, November 2018, 2018, Coalition 2030, Notes: [Additional speakers included the Minster for State for Natural Resources with responsibility for implement the SGD agenda in Ireland], Invited Talk, PRESENTED
Susan P. Murphy, Women and Conflict Discsssion following a performance of Joanne O'Connor's short play, Women Alone. Other panelists included Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Irish Aid Director Gender Ruairi De Burcea and Misean Cara's Collette Nkunda, Woman Alone, Dublin, November 2018, 2018, Oxfam Ireland, Invited Talk, PRESENTED

  

Page 1 of 3
Award Date
European Research Council Starter Grant - GEOFORMATIONS 2023-2028
Gender Awareness and Transformation through Education: An institutional collaboration between Dar es Salaam University College of Education and Trinity College Dublin. Funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Irish Aid 2018-2023
Excellence in Supervision of Research Students Award, Faculty of STEM 2022
European Research Council Starter Grant (stage two interview) 2017
MAjo, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin 2018
External Examiner, UCC BSc International Development 2019-2023
CEU Teaching Award - Nominee 2017
Provost Teaching Award - Nominee 2015
Adjunct Lecturer, School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin 2014-2019
Visiting Researcher, REPOA, Dar Es Salaam Tanzania 2014
Global Citizen - Nominee 2018
Aurora Women in Leadership Foundation: Role Model 2017/2019
My research is concerned with ethical governance in times of change. Although there are competing and contested understandings, theories, and world views of development, all forms of development entail change. Some forms of change are designed, planned, controlled, monitored, evaluated, and adapted. Other forms of change are unplanned, the result of unintended consequences and outcomes, and sometimes, unwanted. The study of ethical governance concerns the examination of how development is designed, planned, implemented, monitored, evaluated, and overseen. It is concerned with how responsibility and accountability for outputs, outcomes, and impacts are attributed and allocated, to whom, and for what reasons. It requires consideration of who and what is included in these activities, and who and what is excluded. Whose voices are heard and not heard in decision-making processes, and why? It explores power dynamics in governing development practice, and how power is or should be balanced across the range of agents, agencies, and communities affected by development activities. In 2023, my project GEOFORMATIONS: the geographies of dynamic governance assemblages in development cooperation civil society spaces was selected for funding by the European Research Council (ERC) under the ERC-2022-STG competition. GEOFORMATIONS will provide radical new insights into the governance geographies of place-based development cooperation practices that can be used to transform international development cooperation governance theory, policy, and practice. As a collaborative, engaged researcher I run interdisciplinary projects related to development with PhD scholars (x10) and researchers in education, economics, clinical speech and language studies, and business. Committed to transdisciplinary research, I also co-design and co-deliver research projects with a number of key development agencies and organisations. In 2021 I established the Climate Justice and Development Research Group. My team of funded PhD (x3) and MRes (x1) scholars examine the multivariant relations between climate action planning, climate change, sociocultural relationships, and situated power dynamics through a restorative development lens.