Professor Tim Coles

About me:

Tim Coles is Professor of Management in the University of Exeter Business School.

His research examines how businesses and organisations in tourism, the cultural industries and creative economy respond to major challenges -such as digital innovation, austerity, Brexit, and global environmental change- in their management practices, operations and business models. He is particularly interested in issues around sustainable tourism and trajectories for tourism development relate to international agendas, for instance, relating to climate change and emissions reduction.

As a world-leading authority on business and management research in tourism, he is the author of over 50 papers in international peer-reviewed journals, 30 chapters in books, and co-author or –editor of four volumes. He edits two book series for Routledge and is a member of the editorial board of five international, peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Sustainable Tourism where his work has regularly appeared.

Tim’s research has been extensively funded by research councils, in particular by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the European Union. With colleagues in Drama, during the COVID-19 pandemic he worked on 'Outside the Box', an AHRC-funded project about open-air performance as a pandemic response. Ahead of the 2012 Olympics, he was director of the Exeter Centre for Sport, Leisure and Tourism from 2008 to 2013. Funded by ESRC, this £1.5 million inter-disciplinary programme recognised Exeter as the UK centre for postgraduate and postdoctoral capacity building in sport, leisure and tourism in the social sciences.

Tim is deeply committed to engaged research, knowledge exchange and co-production. He has completed projects for and with a wide range of partners from the public, private and voluntary sectors. These have included the World Travel and Tourism Council, Tate, Arts Council England, National Trust, Historic Environment Scotland, Flybe, Ministry of Defence, UK Trade and Investment, Rugby Football Union, BT, and Land Securities.

Within the Business School, Tim has held several senior management roles, including Associate Dean for Research and Impact (2016-18), Director of Impact (2015-16), and Director of Posgraduate Research (2008-11). In 2017 he established the University of Exeter’s Public Engagement Strategic Advisory Group (PEG) which he chaired until 2021.

Administrative responsibilities

• Member, University of Exeter ESRC Funding Advisory Network