Margaret Harris
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Work Experience:
2008 – Emeritus Professor of Voluntary Sector Organisation, Aston University;
2006 – Visiting Professor, Birkbeck, University of London;
2006 – Academic Adviser to the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR
1999 – 2007 Aston Business School, Aston University, Birmingham - Professor of Voluntary Sector Organisation; Chair and Co-Founder of the Aston Centre for Voluntary Action Research (ACVAR)
1987-98  London School of Economics, Department of Social Policy and Administration - Lecturer in Voluntary Sector Organisation.  Concurrently Assistant Director of the Centre for Voluntary Organisation (CVO)
1981-87  Brunel University, Uxbridge, Institute of Organisation and Social Studies - Research Fellow in PORTVAC (Programme of Research and Training in Voluntary Action) ·
1977-81  Citizens Advice Bureau - Trainer and Volunteer Advice Worker ·
1969-77  Greater London Council, Central Policy Studies Unit and Research and Intelligence Unit - Professional Officer ·
1967-69  Greater London Council, Department of the Clerk to the Council - Administrative Officer 

Education:
B.Soc.Sci (Hons 1st Class) Sociology and Politics, Birmingham University·
M.A. (with distinction) Public and Social Administration, Brunel University·
Ph.D. London University

Research:
My research interests focus on the organisation, management and effectiveness of voluntary and community organisations (also known as ‘VCOs’, ‘third sector organisations’, ‘nonprofits’ or ‘NGOs’). Topics of particular interest to me include:·
  • trustee boards, committees and governance structures;
  • the impact of public policy on the management of VCOs;
  • organisational change in the VCO sector; ·
  • the organisation of religious and faith based groups and congregations;·
  • management of volunteers; ·
  • bridge-building between religious and ethnic groups; ·
  • collaborations and partnerships  within the voluntary sector and across the voluntary/governmental sector boundaries; and ·
  • social responsibility activities linking businesses and VCOs.
Teaching:
My teaching in recent years has mostly been at postgraduate and post-experience levels.  Courses and topics covered have included: voluntary sector organisation; working across sectoral boundaries; organisational change management; social research methods; social policy; and corporate social responsibility; as well as supervision of doctoral students.  I am a member of the Higher Education Academy. 

Doctoral Examinations:
I have been external examiner for doctoral theses at: Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; University of Sydney, Australia; Warwick University, England; London School of Economics, England; Stirling University, Scotland; Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland; Birmingham University, England; Rhodes University, South Africa; Sheffield Hallam University, England.  

Editorial Positions:
International Editor of the Journal of  Nonprofit Management and Leadership (1997-2001) ·
Review Board for Special Issue of the Journal of Business Research (2001-2002)·
Editorial Board of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly (2004-·
Editor of Special Issue of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly on ‘Theories and Concepts for the Study of Nonprofits and Voluntary Action’ (2007-2009)  

Other Recent Academic and Academic Related Activities:
Keynote Presentation, July 2009, to the Annual Meeting of the Jewish Volunteering Network on 'Why a Jewish Volunteering Network?'
Member of the Advisory Group of the Jewish Volunteering Network, 2009-
Member of the Reference Group for the 'Below the Radar' Work Stream of the Third Sector Research Centre, Birmingham University, 2009-
Presentation to the ESRC/NCVO/VE Seminar on 7 April 2009 on ‘Voluntary Action and the Economic Downturn: Threats and Opportunities’.  The presentation was entitled ‘Managing the Impact of Recession on Voluntary Action’
Presentation in March 2009 on ‘Religion and Good Relations’ to EHRC Seminar on ‘Religion, Equality and Good Relations’Plenary Address to the Annual Meeting of ARNOVA (Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action), Philadelphia, November 2008 - 'Leading in Building Civil Society - Obligations and Privileges'
Presentation, June 2008, to NCVO/Carnegie Seminar on Bridging Social Capital - Powerpoint presentation from the seminar and overall report of the bridging seminar series is available at www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/socialcapital and www.futuresforcivilsociety.org
Member of the Commission on the Future of Volunteering 2006- 2008 
Lecture tour in Taiwan including visits to National Chengchi University and National Chi-Nan University, December 2006 
Visiting Professor in the School of Management, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel – March 2005, May 2006, March 2007 
Keynote Address ‘Shaping the Future of Voluntary Sector Research in the UK’ NCVO/VSSN Research Conference, Warwick University,  31 August 2005 
Member of the Academic Advisory Group for the UJIA/Hebrew University Project on Contemporary Jewish Identity in the UK 2002 – 2005 
Special Advisor to Birmingham Commission on the Voluntary Sector April 2001 – April 2003

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