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 (2007-12), Director of Research (2015-17), Director of Education (2018-20) and a member of the School for Policy Studies Management Team (2007-12 and 2015-20).  Most recently she was Chair of SPS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (2021-23) and was a Committee member until 2025.
Patricia’s research focuses on the intersection 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 they impact policy and everyday life in communities and households and for different groups of people.  This approach to understanding and explaining policy implementation, mobility and change has been explored across a range of substantive issues inclduing citizenship, the welfare state and social protection, urban homelessness, gender equality, and the global financial crisis.  Recent work has focused on critical human security, state capacity and sustainable urban development and post-Covid futures.   Her work has been conducted in different parts of the world, particularly East and Southeast Asia and Europe and 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.