Manchester Metropolitan University and IPM Colleagues Head to Gothenburg for International Discussions on Place, Regions and Futures
The Institute of Place Management is delighted to be represented at the Regional Studies Association Conference, taking place in Gothenburg from 15 -18 June, where we will be convening a Special Session titled “Contemporary Issues in Place Management and Leadership.”
Next week, colleagues from the Institute of Place Management will travel to Gothenburg, Sweden, to participate in the 2026 Regional Studies Association Annual Conference, one of the leading international gatherings of researchers, policymakers and practitioners working on regional development, cities and place-based policy. The conference will also showcase the breadth of place-based research taking place across Manchester Metropolitan University. Several Manchester Metropolitan University colleagues will be contributing to the conference programme, including Professor Steve Millington, Dr David Beel, Dr Jenny Kanellopoulou, Dr Nikos Ntounis, Dr Sergey Sosnovskikh, Dr Chloe Steadman and doctoral researcher Jonathan Hobbs.
As part of the conference programme, IPM will convene a Special Session entitled “Contemporary Issues in Place Management and Leadership”, bringing together researchers from across Europe to explore issues including place leadership, governance capacity, partnership working, and the challenges facing places operating on the periphery of economic and political systems.
Professor Steve Millington
“I am looking forward to leading the IPM and Manchester Met delegation. The Regional Studies Association Conference is one of the most important international forums for discussing the future of regions, cities and places. We are delighted to be bringing an Institute of Place Management session to Gothenburg, creating an opportunity for researchers and practitioners from across Europe and beyond to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and explore how place management can help address some of the most pressing issues facing communities today.”
Dr David Beel
“The challenges facing regions today are no longer simply about economic growth. They are about how places anticipate and respond to uncertainty, from climate change and technological disruption to social and political change. I am looking forward to sharing research examining how the Basque Country is navigating these challenges and what other regions can learn from its approach. –
Jonathan Hobbs, doctoral researcher
“High streets remain some of our most important public spaces, but questions about who shapes their future and whose voices are heard are becoming increasingly important. The RSA Conference provides a fantastic opportunity to discuss these issues with researchers and practitioners from across the world and to learn from different approaches to creating more socially sustainable places.”
Dr Jenny Kanellopoulou
“I look forward to presenting on feminist economic geographies, bringing a feminist perspective to regionality and geographical indications within the field of intellectual property. This work questions which regional products and places are selected for protection under different legal schemes such as geographical indications, and which forms of power these choices ultimately reinforce. It offers a powerful contribution to place-based and regional scholarship, encouraging us to think more critically about how we study, lead, and shape places through a feminist lens.”
Dr Nikos Ntounis
“We are looking forward to presenting new collaborative research with Norway’s Telemark Research Institute at this year’s Regional Studies Association Conference. We will explore how the 25 Vital and Viable Priorities framework can be applied within a Norwegian context to support the future development of small town centres facing significant economic and social change. I encourage colleagues visiting the RSA conference to come and talk to us about how we can apply the framework in other countries.”
Dr Sergey Sosnovskikh
“The transition to renewable energy is often framed as a matter of technological innovation and individual household choices. However, less attention has been paid to the role that regional economic environments play in enabling or constraining sustainable behaviour. My research explores how regional entrepreneurial ecosystems shape the energy transition by examining the links between firm density, regional prosperity, and household solar PV adoption. By understanding how business activity influences renewable uptake, I aim to identify pathways towards a more inclusive and spatially balanced transition to net zero”
Dr Chloe Steadman
“I am looking forward to sharing my research with Prof Steve Millington about the atmospheres of Blackpool’s North Pier. In the research, we argue for a more open form of urban design which promotes improvisation, social exchange, and some disorder to generate more vibrant and interesting places. We hope these ideas will be useful to colleagues working internationally on issues such as urban design and place experience”.
The sessions all form part of the Institute’s growing international engagement programme. Recent collaborations have included work across Europe, Australia and North America, reflecting the increasing recognition that many place challenges transcend national boundaries and benefit from international learning and exchange.
Alongside the academic programme, IPM representatives will also be hosting a Speed Networking session at the RSA Conference for first-time attendees. The event is designed to help participants build new relationships and explore opportunities for future research, professional development, and international collaboration. We warmly encourage other delegates to join the session and connect with colleagues from across the international RSA community.
For more information about IPM’s international work, membership, events and research activities, visit the IPM website or contact the team at ipm@mmu.ac.uk.
