Dr Diana Clayton

MSc Human Resource Management
MA Coaching and Mentoring Practice 
PhD in Management
Doctorate in Coaching and Mentoring

I research in the area of Knowledge Management/sharing, (volunteer) employees, and (tourism) organisations. I have experience of using hermeneutic phenomenology methodology for my research.

Knowledge Management: This is concerned principally with the organisational and social issues associated with the management of knowledge within and across organisations, teams and individuals at events. This research aims to contribute understanding of aspects of (organisational) knowledge as a means of organisational performance and ultimately competitive advantage. My focus is on organisational knowledge and/or ‘people’ perspective of organisational knowledge management/sharing, rather than knowledge related to ‘performance content’ of (festival) events. Communities of practice is a key area of research that explores learning through and among ‘employees’ within the event organisation. That said the sharing knowledge of actions and activities of volunteers can be considered as co-construction of the event experience.

(Festival) Event Volunteers: This research area is concerned with the interaction of social actors as ‘free’/volunteer, peripheral labour within event organisations, and their interaction amongst the volunteer community and with ‘employing’ organisations. This incorporates a variety of aspects of the event industry including motivation to volunteer, experiences of volunteering, the leadership (and management) of volunteers, and training of volunteers. 

My research is applied in nature and applicable for policy makers, practitioners and academics alike.

I am published in a special ‘Knowledge Management in the Not-for-Profit Sector’ edition of 2* ABS rating Journal of Knowledge Management. I have an article accepted for publication in 2* ABS rating Events Management. I have presented my doctoral research findings: 'Making Waves: International Conference on Events & 10th AEME

Forum’, Bournemouth University (July 2013), European Conference on Knowledge Management (2016) in Belfast. I have also presented my research at the Knowledge Management Interest Group at Loughborough University (2018) and at various faculty meetings for Warwick Manufacturing Group (2016), and at Oxford Brookes University. I have had papers accepted and presented at the Association of Events Management Educators annual conferences (2019; 2021), and facilitated a 'world cafe' workshop.

• 'Making Waves: International Conference on Events & 10th AEME
• Events Management Educators Forum’, Bournemouth University (July 2013);
• European Conference on Knowledge Management (2016) in Belfast;
• 'Experience, value creation, and impact in Events education and research' & 16th AEME Events Management Educators Forum’, University of Hertfordshire (July 2019);
• 'Events principles and practice – A level playing field?' & 17th AEME Events Management Educators Forum’, University of Brighton/Online (July 2021)."

Diana combines both high quality academic experience with nearly 20 years’ senior HRM practitioner expertise. Experience in research, teaching, marking and supervision at UG- and PG-level at two Top Ten UK Universities. Diana has an ESRC-sponsored PhD in (Tourism) Management Studies, exploring how and why volunteers share knowledge in temporary events organisations. 

Diana is a highly motivated self-starter with a track record of contributing to personal, team and wider organisational success. Diana has excellent time management, project design and implementations skills. Diana combines proven people management capabilities (directly and through matrix organisations) with good interpersonal skills and change management competencies. Diana is also an Executive Coach, having completed a Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching. Until 2024, Diana was a qualified Guide Leader volunteer in the Girl Guiding UK organisation for 10 years.