Meet Dr Anisa Abdulfatah, Researcher and impact evaluation expert here at Salford Business School.
Anisa’s journey has been shaped by her curiosity around how research, policy and innovation programmes can generate meaningful social, organisational and economic changes.
The collaborative and innovative environment at Salford has inspired her to take on exceptional opportunities, while guiding students on how to make real-world impact.
In this blog, Anisa reflects on her career journey, key milestones and how she became the academic she is today.
How did you get into academia as a career path?
My journey into academia was shaped by a deep curiosity in how systems and policies influence people’s everyday lives. I originally trained in sustainability, driven by a desire to understand why circular economy and waste management systems were often hindered in Nigeria. This led me to pursue research that goes beyond theory and focuses on measurable socio-economic impact.
Over time, my interests evolved into impact evaluation, innovation policy and digital transformation. What keeps me in academia is the opportunity to contribute to real-world change, while working with communities and ensuring that research translates into meaningful impact.
Why did you choose to work at the University of Salford?
The University of Salford is home to me. I completed both my MSc in the School of Science, Environment and Engineering and my PhD at Salford Business School. What initially drew me in was the University’s strong focus on sustainability and applied, real-world impact.
The work at the Centre for Sustainable Innovation (CSI), particularly across digital transformation, sustainability and regional development, aligns closely with my interests in bridging research, policy and practice.
What’s the best thing about being an academic at Salford?
One of the best things about being at Salford is the strong culture of collaboration and impact-focused research. There is a clear emphasis on working across disciplines and engaging with external partners to address real-world challenges.
I also value being part of a diverse and supportive academic community where research is encouraged to extend beyond the University and make a practical difference.
Can you tell us about any of your career highlights to-date?
One of the highlights of my career has been contributing to research on clean energy and social inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa, including co-authoring a book that later led to an invitation to speak during the United Nations General Assembly. This was a significant milestone for me as it showed how research can move beyond academic publication and contribute to wider international conversations on sustainability, inclusion and development.
Recently, I’ve led and contributed to large-scale research, impact and evaluation projects focused on digital transformation, innovation ecosystems and support for small and medium-sized enterprises across Greater Manchester. This included working with the Centre for Digital Innovation and the MediaCity Immersive Technology Innovation Hub.
I have also enjoyed supporting and engaging with students through supervision and research-informed guidance. I find it rewarding to help students connect academic ideas with real-world challenges. Seeing students grow in confidence and begin to understand how their work can make a practical difference has been especially meaningful.
What’s your current research focused on?
My current research sits within sustainable innovation, at the intersection of innovation ecosystems and digital transformation. I am particularly interested in how innovation support programmes translate into meaningful social, organisational and economic outcomes for businesses, communities and regional ecosystems.
A central focus of my work is understanding the gaps between policy design, programme delivery and lived experience, and how evaluation can make these gaps visible, actionable and useful for improving future innovation policy and practice.
Do you have any published papers we can read?
My publications include work across sustainability, clean energy, digital transformation and place-based innovation ecosystems.
I co-authored the book chapter, Exploring Social Inclusion for Clean Energy and Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa, published in Springer’s Key Themes in Energy Management. This explores the relationship between clean energy access, social inclusion and sustainable development across Sub-Saharan Africa.
I also co-authored A Human-Centric Approach to Digital Transformation, published in the Research and Innovation Forum 2024 proceedings. This paper reflects my interest in ensuring that digital transformation is not only technology-led, but also shaped by people, organisations and wider social impact.
More recently, I contributed to the i-PLACE Compendium, Innovation Ecosystems: How innovation drives resilience and growth in our cities and communities. My contributions include, Innovation “from the outside in” – rethinking regional ecosystems and Reaching further: integrating FE Colleges into place-based ecosystems for inclusive innovation.
I continue to work on research that bridges the gap between policy ambition and real-world implementation.
And finally, the all-important question, where in Manchester or Salford is best to grab a coffee?
I’m more of a tea person, and I’ve always had one of the best matcha teas with coconut milk from a small café truck near Salford Crescent station, although sadly it’s no longer there.
These days, I enjoy exploring independent cafés around Manchester and Salford. Procaffeinated is a favourite for its calm atmosphere, making it a great place to reset or catch up on reading between busy days.