Athalia is a Lecturer in the Management department at the University of Chester Business School. Before starting her journey with the University of Chester, she completed her Masters’ degree at Lancaster University in non-for-profit organisational management. Athalia has been involved in the social enterprise sector, which developed her passion for social change through entrepreneurship. In 2018 she co-founded a social enterprise called A Mind to Thrive, from taking on this role, she gained a keen interest in the entrepreneurial journey for social and sustainable entrepreneurs. She has also been a Board member of various charitable organisations, including one of the UK’s leading enterprise education charities, Young Enterprise. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Chester Business School, and her doctoral research is focused on gaining an understanding on the impact of social entrepreneurship education and how effectively this prepares entrepreneurs to form and grow businesses driven by a social mission.

In her role as a Lecturer in the Management department, she is involved in teaching in multiple areas including leadership, managing change, social innovation, and enterprise. She has organised and facilitated workshops led by industry professionals, providing students with invaluable insights into real-world business practices and trends. These sessions not only enhance the learning in the classroom, but also enable students to network with experts and gain a deeper understanding of the business landscape. She is active in supporting student entrepreneurs through the entrepreneurship placement pathway. Her contributions also involve designing engaging induction activities for both undergraduate and postgraduate students to introduce them to the academic environment as well as the resources and opportunities available within the Business School.