Helen O'Sullivan

Dr Helen O'Sullivan

  • 01202 962205
  • hosullivan at bournemouth dot ac dot uk
  • Principal Academic
  • Dorset House D233, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB
UN SDGs:
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Biography

Dr Helen O’Sullivan is a Principal Academic in Marketing and Behavioural Science at Bournemouth University Business School. Her research is underpinned by a strong commitment to social justice and equality, examining how people experience and respond to organisations, institutions and places, and how inequalities in power, resources, representation and voice shape those experiences. Across her work, she is particularly interested in identity, belonging, trust, wellbeing, place and lived experience, and in understanding whose voices and experiences are represented, overlooked or marginalised.

These interests are rooted not only in Helen’s academic career but also in her earlier professional experience. Before entering academia, she worked in journalism, marketing and events management in the UK and Australia. While working as a broadcast journalist in Kununurra, Western Australia, she reported within a remote and geographically dispersed region characterised by significant cultural, social and spatial inequalities...

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Research

Helen’s research sits at the intersection of marketing and behavioural science, examining how brands, organisations, institutions and places influence human perceptions, identities and behaviour. A central concern across her work is the relationship between power, trust, authenticity, legitimacy and lived experience, particularly where organisational or institutional narratives intersect with questions of inequality, belonging and social value.

Her current research is organised around three interconnected areas:

Brands, behaviour and societal influence

This strand examines how people respond to organisational identities, values and behaviours, including brand activism, authenticity, sustainability, trust and loyalty. Current work considers how organisations engage with social and political issues and the consequences when stated values and organisational actions align — or conflict — with stakeholder expectations and lived experience.

Place, reputation and power

Helen’s research explores how places, institutions and nations construct and communicate reputation and legitimacy. This includes work on place branding, soft power, sportswashing, community washing, tourism and institutional reputation, with particular interest in how strategic narratives are received, negotiated and resisted by different communities.

Belonging, inequality and lived experience

A growing strand of Helen’s work examines how people experience safety, fear, inclusion, exclusion and belonging within places and institutions...

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Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDGs:

Good health and well-being

"Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages"

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Quality education

"Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all"

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Gender equality

"Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls"

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Reduced inequalities

"Reduce inequality within and among countries"

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Journal Articles

Books

Chapters

Conferences

  • Chapleo, C., OSullivan, H., Kővári, E., 2025. Does being green matter for university branding; an exploration. In: Academy of Marketing 2025 07/07/2025 Cork.
  • O'Sullivan, H., 2025. Green Advantage: Leveraging Sustainability in Higher Education Institution Branding. In: 51st EBES Conference 11/04/2025 Rome.
  • Alshikhy, T., O'Sullivan, H., Polkinghorne, M., Gennings, E., 2025. Developing a Framework for Enhancing Organisational Performance through Soft Power Strategies. In: 51st EBES Conference 11/04/2025 Rome.
  • O'Sullivan, H., Chapleo, C., Cownie, F., 2023. Antecedents, nature and consequences of brand success in comparable English newer universities. In: 44th Eurasia Business & Economics Society Conference 06/07/2023 Istanbul.
  • O'Sullivan, H., Chapleo, C., Cownie, F., 2023. Location, Vocation, Education: Place Marketing in the context of English 'New' Universities. In: 22nd International Congress on Public & Non-Profit Marketing 04/07/2023 Hungary.
  • O'Sullivan, H., Alcaide-Pulido, P., 2023. How have undergraduate students’ wellbeing and quality of life changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic? A cross-national European analysis. In: 22nd International Congress on Public & Non-Profit Marketing 04/07/2023 Hungary.
  • Chapleo, C., Leijerholt, U., O'Sullivan, H., 2023. A complex identity and brand structure: insights from the Swedish public sector. In: International Congress on Public and Nonprofit Marketing 07/07/2022 Braga, Portrugal.
  • O'Sullivan, H., Musarskaya, M., Hibbert, J., 2019. Ask not what marketing practice can do for NPOs; ask what NPOs can do for marketing practice. In: When you tire of Marketing you tire of life. Academy of Marketing annual conference 02/07/2019 Regents.
  • O'Sullivan, H., 2019. The antecedents of Brand Success in post-1992 British universities. In: Managing uncertainty through a time of change in HE marketing colloquium 03/04/2019 Universidad Loyola Andalucia..
  • Leijerholt, U., Chapleo, C., O'Sullivan, H., 2018. A brand within a brand in the public sector. In: The Global Brand Conference 06/03/2019 Northumbria University.
  • Leijerholt, U., Chapleo, C., O'Sullivan, H., 2018. A brand within a brand in the public sector. In: The Global Brand Conference 06/03/2019 Northumbria University.
  • O'Sullivan, H., 2017. Interpretations of brand success from post-applicant students in the context of newer UK universities. In: Innovation in HE Marketing Colloquium. Academy of Marketing 03/04/2017 Kingston, Univeristy, London.
  • O'Sullivan, H., 2017. Branding with a conscience in Higher Education. In: Brands' search for meaning 28/03/2017 Universidad Loyola, Andalucia.
  • O'Sullivan, H., Chapleo, C., Garcia Garcia, M., 2016. The role of social media in university brand strategy; an exploration. In: Contemporary Thought in HE Marketing. Academy of Marketing 27/04/2016 Bournemouth University.
  • O'Sullivan, H., Bolat, E., sreedharan, C., 2016. Listening to students' conversations and stories - how, what and where? In: Contemporary Thought in HE Marketing. The Academy of Marketing. 27/04/2016 Bournemouth Univeristy.
  • O'Sullivan, H., Bolat, E., sreedharan, C., 2016. Listening to students' conversations and stories - how, what and where? In: Contemporary Thought in HE Marketing. The Academy of Marketing. 27/04/2016 Bournemouth Univeristy.
  • O'Sullivan, H., 2016. What is Brand Success in Post-92 UK HEIs? In: Academy of Marketing Annual Conference 2016 04/07/2016 Newcastle Business School.
  • Bolat, E., O'Sullivan, H., Sreedharan, C., 2016. Radicalising the Marketing of Higher Education: Learning from students - generated social media data. In: Academy of Marketing 04/07/2016 Newcastle, UK.
  • Bolat, E., O'Sullivan, H., Sreedharan, C., 2016. Listening to students' conversations and stories - how, what and where? In: Contemporary Thought in HE Marketing Colloquium. 27/04/2016 Bournemouth, UK.
  • O'Sullivan, H., 2015. The Impact of consumer culture in higher education. In: 2015 Academy of Marketing Conference 07/07/2015 University of Limerick.
  • O'Sullivan, H., 2015. Assessing and Understanding the influences on brand effectiveness in different contexts. A study of UK higher education as it moves towards marketisation. In: 2015 Academy of Marketing Conference 06/07/2015 University of Limerick.
  • OSullivan, H., 2015. How do we measure successful HEI brands? In: Bournemouth University Research Conference 27/01/2015 Bournemouth University.
  • O'Sullivan, H., 2015. Branding success in post-92 HEIs. In: The 7th Annual Postgraduate Conference 20/01/2015 Bournemouth University.
  • O'Sullivan, H., 2007. The importance of work-based learning in partnership with the local college. In: Work-Based Learning Conference 21/06/2007 Bournemouth University.

Theses

Posters

PhD Students

  • Abdullah Allaboon. The perceived impacts of the Riyadh season on the quality of life and the satisfaction of Saudi locals in Riyadh city, (In progress)
  • Tariq Alshikhy. An investigation into the role of soft power applied to sporting mega-events to enhance the global reputation and cultural visibility of the host country: A case study focussed on Saudi Arabia., (In progress)

Profile of Teaching PG

  • MSc International Marketing Management
  • MSc Marketing Management: Marketing Communications

Profile of Teaching UG

  • BA (Hons) Industrial Design: Commercial Design Project
  • BA (Hons) Design Business Management: Market Research for Design
  • BA (Hons) Industrial Design: Business Development
  • BA (Hons) Business Studies: Consumer Behaviour
  • BA (Hons) Business Studies: Marketing

Invited Lectures

  • Embracing Sustainability: A cross-culture review, Universitas Pendidikan, Indonesia, 30 Oct 2023 more
  • Fashion Branding, Universidad de Loyola, Andalusia, 10 Mar 2023 more
  • 01 Jul 2019 more
  • Brand Success. Foreign Trade University, Vietnam, Foreign Trade University, Vietnam, 25 Oct 2018 more
  • 22 Jan 2018 more

Grants

  • Feeling Safe? Human Narratives of Fear, Protection and Wellbeing in Urban Public Space (Quality Research Funding, Bournemouth University, 28 Jan 2026). Awarded
  • Shades of Green: Greening Higher Education: Examining Institutional Practices, Community Attitude and Public Perceptions (University of Pannonia, Hungary, 16 Oct 2024). Awarded
  • International Writing Retreat (Quality Research Funding, Bournemouth University, 17 Jul 2023). Awarded
  • Excellence in Sustainable Teaching (Bournemouth University, 08 Jul 2019). Awarded
  • Charity Impact Fund Award (Bournemouth University, 12 Feb 2019). Awarded
  • Contemporary Thought in Higher Education Marketing Colloquium, 2016 (Bournemouth University, 27 Apr 2016). Awarded

External Responsibilities

  • Coventry University, External Examiner, (2020-2024)
  • University of Bolton, External Panel Member: Validation (2017-)
  • Academy of Marketing Science, Reviewer (2017)
  • British Conference of Undergraduate Research, Reviewer (2017)
  • Journal of Marketing of Higher Education, Guest Editor (2017)
  • University of Salford, External Advisor for Periodic Review (2017-)
  • Leeds Beckett University, External Examiner (2016-2020)
  • Kingston University, External Examiner (2015-)
  • Manchester Metropolitan University, External Examiner (2015-2019)
  • Academy of Marketing, Reviewer (2015-2017)
  • Chartered Institute of Marketing: Dorset Branch, Committee member (2010-)

Internal Responsibilities

  • BUBS Lead, JISC Learning Analytics Working Group
  • Impact Champion, REF Impact Sub-committee
  • Member, BUBS Faculty Postgraduate Research Committee
  • REF Impact Champion Unit of Assessment Lead, UoA 17: Business & Management Studies., REF - UoA17

Journal Reviewing/Refereeing

  • Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, Open peer review, 31 Jan 2017

Public Engagement & Outreach Activities

  • The Hunger Games: Let’s Win Together! (16 Jul 2015)

Consultancy Activities

  • Showcasing Best Practice and Models of University- Industry Partnerships., Round table. British Embassy, Vietnam

Attended Training

  • European Academy of Innovation. Romania, 20 Feb 2023

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Branding (Bournemouth University, 2022)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Education Practice (2015)
  • MA in Marketing Management (Southampton Solent University, 2014)
  • PGCE in Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (City & Guilds, 2013)
  • Chartered Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing (Chartered Institute of Marketing, 2010)
  • BA (Hons) in English (University of Surrey, 2001)

Honours

  • Excellence in Sustainable Teaching award. Bournemouth University (2019)
  • Best Paper in Track "HE Marketing" Award. (Academy of Marketing, 2016)
  • Vice-Chancellor's Staff Award: Collaborative Team Award (2016)
  • Best Paper (Academy of Marketing, 2016)
  • Vice-Chancellor's Staff Award 2015: Achievement of qualification relevant to your role (Bournemouth University, 2015)
  • Nominated Vice-Chancellor's Staff Awards 2014: Collaborative Team (Bournemouh University, 2014) (2014)
  • Best Marketing Campaign (HEIST, 2014)
  • Marketing Excellence Award (Best Marketing Campaign) (Chartered Institute of Marketing, 2013)
  • Vice-Chair CIM Dorset Committee (Chartered Institute of Marketing, 2012)
  • Chartered Marketer (Chartered Institute of Marketing, 2010)
  • Student of the Year award. Business Consultancy Award. CMI.

Memberships

  • Chartered Management Institute, Member (2017-),
  • Academy of Marketing, Chair (2014-),
  • Higher Education Academy, Senior Fellow (2014-),
  • Chartered Institute of Marketing, Chartered Marketer (2010-),
The data on this page was last updated at 10:30 on September 13, 2026.