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Dr. Amal Abuzeinab (SFHEA, RSA) is a Senior Lecturer and strategic advisor for Sustainable Development Goals steering group to advice on the implementation of sustainable development. Amal is the  UN United Nations SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) Impact Fellow leading on collaboration; innovation; and scholarship. Academic co-Lead, Education for Sustainable Development goals – ESD.

Amal is working on flourishing as borrowed from Positive Psychology on 4 main areas: Flourishing business models in architecture, built environment, and planning; PhD supervision; flourishing in academia; and how women flourish at work?  Amal is also experimenting on spaces for multiple methods and perspectives as a way of knowing and understanding through dialogue. 

Dr Abuzeinab is currently supervising 5 PhD students and welcomes PhD applications in regenerative  business models,  sustainability in architectural education,  sustainable development goals implementation in Higher Education institutes, and contemporary topics and issues that align with interdisciplinary approaches. 

As an early career researcher between 2016 -2023, Amal secured more than 100k fund from different sources. 

Amal was the Institute Head of Research Students (IHRS) for the former Institute of Architecture (2022 - 2024). Amal was the co-faculty head of research students (2017-2020) at the Faculty of Arts, Design, and Humanities overseeing over 500 PhD students and their supervisors. Amal was the founder of Architecture Doctoral Training Programme (DTP).

Funded by EPSRC, Amal has awarded her PhD in 2015 from University of Salford. Her thesis title was Implementing Green Business Models in the UK Construction Industry: Opportunities and Challenges. Amal has MSc in Architecture from the Robert Gordon University  and BSc Hons in Architecture from University of Khartoum, Sudan.

Institute for Sustainable Futures

 ORCID iD:

1. Abbakyari, M., Abuzeinab, A., & Taki, A., (2025). The application of an empathic design method in designing sustainable housing for slums in Nigeria. In Sage Research Methods Cases Part 1. SAGE Publications, Ltd.,
2. Sevim, Y. E., Taki, A., & Abuzeinab, A. (2025). Examining Energy Efficiency and Retrofit in Historic Buildings in the UK. Sustainability, 17(7), 3002. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073002
3. Kah, S., Murithi, W., & Abuzeinab, A., (2025). Participant-made drawings: using a visual method in social enterprise resilience research. In Sage Research Methods Cases Part 1. SAGE Publications, Ltd.,
4. , , ,  and  (2024), Sustainability communication: a content analysis of websites of higher education institutions in the UK, , 
5. 1. Awuzie, B.O., Abuzeinab, A. (2024). Understanding the Moderating Effect of Governance Functions on the Impact of Communication on Sustainability Implementation Performance in Higher Education Institutions. In: Rotondo, F., Giovanelli, L., Lozano, R. (eds) Sustainability in Higher Education. Strategies for Sustainability. Springer, Cham.
   2. Abbakyari, M., Abuzeinab, A., Adefila, A., Whitehead, T., Oyinlola, M. (2023) Designing sustainable housing using a user-centred approach: Paipe case study, Buildings, 13, 10, 2496

Sung, K. & Abuzeinab, A. (2021) Challenges and opportunities for scaling up global upcycling towards sustainable production and consumption: Literature review, Handbook of Sustainability Science in the Future

Adefila, A., Abuzeinab, A., Whitehead, T., & Oyinlola, M., (2020) Utilising Appreciative Inquiry to develop a user Acceptance model, Journal of Built Environment Project and Asset Management

Awuzie, B. and Abuzeinab, A. (2019) Modelling Organisational Factors Influencing Sustainable Development Implementation Performance in Higher Education Institutions: An Interpretative Structural Modelling (ISM) Approach, Sustainability, 11(16)

Oyinlola,      M., Whitehead, T., Abuzeinab, A., Adefila, A., Akinola, Y., Anafi, A.,  Farukh, F., Oluyemi, J., Kandan, K., Boksun., K., & Mosugu, E. (2018)      Bottle house: A case study of transdisciplinary research for tackling      global challenges, Habitat      International

Abuzeinab, A., Arif, M., & Qadri, A. (2017) Barriers to MNEs green business models in the UK construction sector: An ISM analysis, Journal of Cleaner Production 

Abuzeinab, A., Arif, M., & Qadri, A. Kulonda, D. (2017) Green business models in the construction sector: An analysis of outcomes and benefits, Construction Innovation: Information, Process, Management

Abuzeinab, A., Arif, M., Kulonda, D. & Awuzie, B. (2016) Green business models transformation: Evidence from the UK construction sector, Journal of Built Environment Project and Asset Management

Green/regenerative business models for architecture and the built environment

• Architecture x interdisciplinary 

• Sustainability in architectural education
• Qualitative methods / Socially-engaged approaches 
• Architecture styles 

Low/ passive energy design

Architecture x interdisciplinary 

Research-led teaching   

Post Graduate Certificate in Learning & Teaching in Higher Education (PGCLTHE)

PhD

MSc

BSc (Hons)

• BA Architecture 
• BSc Architectural Technology 
• BSc Quantity Surveying and Construction
• MSc Architecture and Sustainability 

• • 1. 1. Outstanding Supervisor of the year award 2025 
    2. Aurora Programme Advance Higher Education, leadership development initiative for women 2023/2024
    3. United Nations SDG Hub Climate Action in Arts and Culture award 2024 
    4. 1. United Nations SDG 11 Impact Fellow 2024
       2. ADH research-informed teaching award 2023/2024
       3. Advancing Research Careers Programme – Mid career researcher 2023/2024
• ˽·¿¾ãÀÖ²¿ Future Research Leaders 2017/2018
• ADH best new researcher award 2017/2018

• Member of judging panel of #˽·¿¾ãÀÖ²¿engage initiative to promote research impact 2017

• Pollution Challenge Finalist 2013 – Environment Agency
• EPSRC Doctoral Training Account studentship (DTA) 2011 - School of the Built Environment, University of Salford 

World Association for Sustainable Development (WASD)

Working from Home (WfH) environments for well-being and productivity

Data centres lifecycle: from extractive to regenerative 

Adapting sustainable business model patterns to the Built Environment 

Sustainable development goals implementation in Higher Education 

Business model conference  June 10-11, 2026

Villanova International Sustainability Conference, Rome 12-16 October 2026

1. 1. Abuzeinab, A., Dye, A., Ghaziani, R., & Ogunbode, C. (2025, September 5). Working from Home (WfH) environments to enhance well-being and productivity. International Conference 2025: Towards Resilient and Sustainable Cities and Communities (RSCC), Leicester, UK. 
   Salvi, S., Reeves, A., Kerr, D., & Abuzeinab, A. (2025, September 4). Ecologies beyond the Human - Reimagining Nature-based Solutions through Relational and Multispecies Perspectives. International Conference 2025: Towards Resilient and Sustainable Cities and Communities (RSCC), Leicester, UK. 
2. 1. Abdelwahab, S., Elhussainy, M., & Abuzeinab, A. (2024) Leveraging Interactive Platforms for Sustainable Built Environment Education: A Case Study for First-year Students in Block Learning Model, 24^th International Conference on Construction Applications of Virtual Reality (CONVR 2024) 4-6 November 2024, Western Sydney University, NSW, Australia
3. Abuzeinab, A., Sung, K., Moalosi, R., Satheesan, A., Garba, B., Adeh, F., Lim, H., Baek, J., & Njeru., S. (2023) Key global challenges and opportunities for scaling up upcycling businesses in the world: Interpretive structural modelling workshop preliminary analysis, 5^th PLATE 2023 Conference Espoo, Finland - 31 May - 2 June 2023

The Business Model Conference 201718-19 May 2017, Italy, Green business models: Linking environmental sustainability and business models literature,  A., Abuzeinab, M., Arif,  N., Eltinay, & I., Bathgate,  paper presentation

CIB World Building Congress 2016, 30 May – 3 June, Tampere Finland, Green business models and organisational changes: Lessons from the UK construction sector, Abuzeinab, A. & Arif, M, paper presentation

Fourth International Conference on Multinational Enterprises and Sustainable Development, 13-15 December 2015, Lisbon Portugal, Overcoming barriers to green business models in the UK construction industry, Abuzeinab, A. & Arif, M, paper presentation

40th IAHS World Congress on Housing, Sustainable Housing Construction, 16-19 December 2014, Funchal Portgual, Understanding sustainability through Bradford affordable housing lens, Abuzeinab, A., Oltean-Dumbrava, C., & Dickens D., paper presentation

4th International Conference on Building Resilience, Building Resilience, 8-10 September 2014, Salford Quays United kingdom, Stakeholder engagement: A green business model indicator, Abuzeinab, A. & Arif, M., paper presentation

Industrial and Systems Engineering Research Conference, Abuzeinab, 31 May–3 June 2014, Montréal Canada, Green business models in the UK construction sector: Empirical study, Abuzeinab, A., Arif, M. & Thompson, W., paper presentation

The 2014 CIB W55/65/89/92/96/102/117 & TG72/81/83 International Conference on Construction in a Changing World,  4 –7 May, 2014, Sri Lanka, Emergence of the business models in the building and construction literature, Abuzeinab, A., & Arif, M., paper presentation

11th International Postgraduate Research Conference IPGRC, 8–10 April, 2013, University of Salford, Salford, UK, Business model reconfiguration in green construction: A theoretical perspective, Abuzeinab, A. & Arif, M., paper presentation

11th International Postgraduate Research Conference IPGRC, 8–10 April, 2013, University of Salford, Salford, UK, Sustainable construction capabilities: A Local Authority perspective, Abuzeinab, A. & Arif, M., paper presentation

8th Annual Green Economics Institute Conference, 18-22 July 2013 University of Oxford, Worcester College, UK, A conceptual green business model for construction companies: An empirical evaluation, Abuzeinab, A., & Arif, M., paper presentation.   

Business modelling and development for regenerative futures ( scalability and succession phases )

Sustainable development goals implementation in higher education 

 Kubra Cebecioglu, FT, 1st supervisor, practice-based architecture 

Naji Akbar, iPhD part-time, 1st supervisor, ecological embeddedness in the built environment 

Lee Knowles, iPhD part-time, 1st supervisor, regenerative architecture 

Father Johnnie Abubakar, FT, 1st supervisor, Informal settlement renewal as a tool for sustainable urban development: Case study of Mararaban Gurku, Nigeria 

Shweta Prasanna Salvi, FT, 2 nd supervisor, Ecologies beyond the Human / nature-based solutions 

Naira Ahmed Soliman, FT, 2nd supervisor, Islamic architecture 

Maryam Abbakyari, FT, 2 ^nd supervisor, Sustainable housing design for slums using empathic design method 

Innovate UK - Co-investigator Knowledge transfer partnerships (KTP): 2024 to 2025 Round 3 (awarded 21 November 2024)

Developing local capacity for building affordable, self-sufficient homes, Royal Academy of Engineering, Co-investigator 2016-2017

Researcher links workshop travel grant to Kazakhstan 2016

Researcher links workshop travel grant to Brazil 2016  

Knowledge exchange Industrial Fellowship Scholarship, Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) Project: Applying business model tools to aid green/ sustainable/ Net Zero/ circularity transitions for architecture, built environment, and planning industries January – June 2025 value £3000

Research England: International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) Institutional Support Grant (ODA), Principal Investigator Jan 2024 – May 2024 value £15,615

Frontrunner yearly application funding to employ research assistants from doctoral students 2022 – 2026. 210 hours over 6 months between Oct – March , Yearly value between £2300 – £2500

VC2020 development fund 2019/ 2020 

PhD studentship full bursary 2017

ERASMUS+ teaching mobility grant 2017

Low cost sustainable home prototype for developing countries (LCSH), RIF, Co-investigator 2016-2017

VC202 fund 2016

ARG fund 2016

1. Peer review college member for ESRC: Economic and social research council based on my track-record on interdisciplinary research on business modelling for architecture, built environment, and planning disciplines    

Peer-review for the following journals:

Journal of Cleaner Production 

Facilities

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education (IJSHE)

Architectural Engineering and Design Management journal 

Sustainability 

World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development – Guest editor for a special issue

1. Abuzeinab, A. Studio-based education for sustainable development goals, CIOB Academic summit, Online, Wednesday 10^th September 2025  
2. Abuzeinab, A. Invited panel member, Women in Architecture, UK Crossing Borders workshop Thursday, June 19, 2025
3. Abuzeinab, A. Invited workshop: How women flourish in academia? June 2025, WISE forum, ˽·¿¾ãÀÖ²¿
4. Abuzeinab, A. Invited talk: Mixing Leicester realities since 2017, Placemaking Online-Seminar series, June 2025, Birmingham City University, UK
5. Abuzeinab, A. Invited talk: Business models in transitions, Monday 9th June 2025, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
6. Abuzeinab, A. Invited talk: ark studio, Education for Sustainable Development symposium, May 2025, ˽·¿¾ãÀÖ²¿
7. Abuzeinab, A. Invited workshop: How women flourish at work? March 2025, Architecture Plus, ˽·¿¾ãÀÖ²¿
8. Abuzeinab, A. Research-led teaching, CIOB Academic summit, Online, Tuesday 10^th September 2024
9. Abuzeinab, A. Invited expert talk for international conference (Universities and Sustainable Development Goals 2030 “Targets and Practices”), 22-23/01/2024 at Majmaah University, Riyadh region, KSA. Talk titled: Actions for Impact (AI) responding to "Development and Sustainability: Goals, Concepts, and Implications"
10. 1. Abuzeinab, A. & Awuzie, B. Invited presentation for workshop titled: ‘Sustainability in higher education: Strategies, performance and future challenges’, May 26th, 2023, at the University of Sassari, Italy
    2. Abuzeinab, A. Invited panel member to Role of Higher Education Institutions in promoting UN Sustainable Development Goals, Make it Sustainable Forum, 26^th April 2023, Ajman University, UAE
    3. Abuzeinab, A. Invited talk to ‘Research Journeys in/to Net Zero: Current and Future Research Leaders in the Midlands, UK’ Net Zero Conference 2022 on Friday 24th June, ˽·¿¾ãÀÖ²¿ (˽·¿¾ãÀÖ²¿), Leicester
    4. Abuzeinab, A. Invited panel member to Building bridges – Cultures in Conversation | How Culture Can Help Us Unite to Achieve the SDGs? at Dubai EXPO Tuesday 25 January 2022 in the UK pavilion.