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Dr. Amal Abuzeinab (SFHEA, RSA) is an interdisciplinary architectural academic  and strategic advisor for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) steering group focusing on SDGs implementation. Amal is the  UN United Nations SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) Impact Fellow leading on collaboration; innovation; and scholarship. She is 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. 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.
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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)
10. 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
11. 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 
12. 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
13. 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

1. Green/regenerative business models for architecture and the built environment

• Architecture x interdisciplinary 

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

1. Low/ passive energy design
2. Architecture x interdisciplinary 
3. Research-led teaching   

1. Post Graduate Certificate in Learning & Teaching in Higher Education (PGCLTHE)
2. PhD
3. MSc
4. BSc (Hons)

1. BA Architecture 
2. BSc Built environment 
3. MSc Architecture and Sustainability 
4. MSc Engineering Management 

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. United Nations SDG 11 Impact Fellow 2024
5. ADH research-informed teaching award 2023/2024
6. Advancing Research Careers Programme – Mid career researcher 2023/2024
7. ÔÂÎèÖ±²¥ Future Research Leaders 2017/2018
8. ADH best new researcher award 2017/2018

1. Member of judging panel of #ÔÂÎèÖ±²¥engage initiative to promote research impact 2017
2. Pollution Challenge Finalist 2013 – Environment Agency
3. EPSRC Doctoral Training Account studentship (DTA) 2011 - School of the Built Environment, University of Salford 

World Association for Sustainable Development (WASD)

1. Business models in transitions: architecture, built environment, and planning sectors 
2. Working from Home (WfH) environments for well-being and productivity
3. PERMA for PhD supervision and timely  completion
4. Data centres lifecycle: from extractive to regenerative 
5. Adapting sustainable business model patterns to the Built Environment 
6. Sustainable development goals implementation in Higher Education 
7. Learners accessible companions 

1. Business model conference  June 10-11, 2026
2. Villanova International Sustainability Conference, Rome 12-16 October 2026

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. 
2. 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. 
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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
13. 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
14. 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.   

1. Business modelling and development for regenerative futures ( scalability and succession phases )
2. Sustainable development goals implementation in higher education 

1.  Kubra Cebecioglu, FT, 1st supervisor, practice-based architecture 
2. Naji Akbar, iPhD part-time, 1st supervisor, ecological embeddedness in the built environment 
3. Lee Knowles, iPhD part-time, 1st supervisor, regenerative architecture 
4. Father Johnnie Abubakar, FT, 1st supervisor, Informal settlement renewal as a tool for sustainable urban development: Case study of Mararaban Gurku, Nigeria 
5. Shweta Prasanna Salvi, FT, 2 nd supervisor, Ecologies beyond the Human / nature-based solutions 
6. Naira Ahmed Soliman, FT, 2nd supervisor, Islamic architecture   

• 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  

1. 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
2. Research England: International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) Institutional Support Grant (ODA), Principal Investigator Jan 2024 – May 2024 value £15,615
3. 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
4. VC2020 development fund 2019/ 2020 
5. PhD studentship full bursary 2017
6. ERASMUS+ teaching mobility grant 2017
7. Low cost sustainable home prototype for developing countries (LCSH), RIF, Co-investigator 2016-2017
8. VC202 fund 2016
9. 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    
2. Peer-review for the following journals:
3. Journal of Cleaner Production 
4. Facilities
5. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education (IJSHE)
6. Architectural Engineering and Design Management journal 
7. 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, ÔÂÎèÖ±²¥
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, ÔÂÎèÖ±²¥
7. Abuzeinab, A. Invited workshop: How women flourish at work? March 2025, Architecture Plus, ÔÂÎèÖ±²¥
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. 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
11. 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
12. 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, ÔÂÎèÖ±²¥ (ÔÂÎèÖ±²¥), Leicester
13. 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.