Fiona Ford is a PhD researcher at the University of Manchester (UOM). Her project assesses the sustainability impacts of supply chains for post-consumer textiles in closed-loop cellulose polymer recycling. The project is supervised by Dr Alejandro Gallego-Schmid: Senior Lecturer in Circular Economy and Lifecycle Sustainability Assessment in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering; and Dr Claudia E. Henninger: Reader in Fashion Marketing and Management in the Department of Materials.
In her work, Fiona strives to contribute to the scalability of lesser developed circular economy propositions. She has specialist knowledge of fashion and textiles, having gained ten years industry experience. She holds an MSc in Fashion Ethics from Heriot Watt School of Textiles and Design (2020), and a BA(Hons) in Clothing Design ad Technology from Manchester Metropolitan University (2012).
Since beginning the PhD Fiona has contributed to the teaching of final year BSc Fashion Marketing students by leading seminars in Business Ethics, Sustainability & CSR. She completed the first ever course for ECRs in Absolute environmental sustainability assessment ran by Denmark Technical University (DTU), and has contributed research to the Product Lifetimes and the Environment (PLATE) 2023 conference: as well as a series of UOM postgraduate conferences.
Since beginning her career in the circular economy for fashion and textiles, Fiona has worked on a variety of short projects. In 2020 she acted as a sector specialist on the evaluation of a leading international circular economy initiative for the fashion industry. She later worked in the charity sector, where she contributed to the research, outreach, project facilitation and strategic planning of two non-profit organisations. During COP26 Fiona helped to facilitate a series public engagement workshop around Glasgow and took part in public speaking at the conference’s Green Zone.
