Patricia Kennett is Professor in Comparative and International Policy Studies in the School for Policy Studies, having joined the University of Bristol in 2004.  During her time at the School Patrica has been Head of the Centre for Urban and Public Policy Research (2007-2012), Director of Research (2015-2017), Director of Education (2018-2020) and a member of the School for Policy Studies Management Team (2007-12 and 2015-2020).  Most recently she was Chair of SPS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (2021-23) and is currently a Committee member.
 
Patricia’s research focuses on the intersection and multi-scalarity of global, national and local social, public and urban policy in international comparative perspective. Patricia is particularly interested in the inter-related dynamics of multi-scalar and comparative governance, place and power and how this impacts policy and everyday life in communities and households and different groups of people.  This approach to understanding policy change and development has been explored across a range of substantive issues (citizenship and the welfare state, urban homelessness, gender equality, social protection, the global financial crisis, critical human security and sustainable urban development, post-Covid futures), international and regional organisations, and in different parts of the world, particularly East and Southeast Asia and Europe.  Her work has been conducted in collaboration with international partners including Seoul National University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Japan Women’s University and Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. 

Patricia has been sole Editor of Policy & Politics (2000-2003), co-editor of the Journal of Social Policy (2014-2018) and editorial board member of International and Comparative Social Policy. She was a Board Member of the Social Policy Association between 2014 and 2018.