Dr Louise Obara

A social scientist by training, Louise joined DMU after completing a PhD at Cardiff Business School on the management and implementation of human rights and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in UK companies. Previous to this, Louise worked as a Research Associate at the BRASS Research Centre (for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society) at Cardiff University. There she completed a variety of projects on responsible management, CSR, sustainability and stakeholder engagement. This included a large study focussing on community development, CSR and stakeholder management in the Ghanaian gold mining industry in conjunction with the Universities of Reading and Ghana. Louise has also worked in the public sector as a social worker (where she supported refugees and asylum seekers in Swindon), and as a research officer at the Welsh Government (where she co-managed the Government’s stakeholder engagement programme). 

Centre for Research in Accountability, Governance and Sustainability (CRAGS)

• Obara, L. and Peattie, K. 2017. Bridging the Great Divide? Making Sense of The Human Rights-CSR Relationship in UK Multinational Companies. Journal of World Business. 53(6), pp. 781-793.
• Obara, L. J. 2017. “What Does This Mean?”: How UK Companies Make Sense of Human Rights. Business and Human Rights Journal, 2(2), pp. 249–273.
• Obara, L.J. and Robinson, P. K. 2011. Negotiating the Terrain: Doing Research Abroad. In. Franklin, A and Blyton, P. eds. Researching Sustainability: A Guide to Social Science Methods, Practice and Engagement. London: Earthscan, pp.190-208
• Obara, L.J. and Jenkins, H. 2008. Land Use Disputes in Ghana's Mining Communities: Developing Sustainable Strategies. BRASS Working Paper Series, Number 36

Louise’s research focuses on human rights, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability within multinational companies (MNCs). In particular, she explores how ethics, CSR and human rights are managed, implemented, measured and disclosed by MNCs as well as the drivers behind the extent and type of corporate responsibility. Whilst Louise’s research focuses on the people, governance systems and formal/informal management processes within businesses, she adopts a holistic approach that incorporates and explores the interaction of organisational and internal factors (such as employee values, leadership, and corporate culture), and environmental & external aspects (such as regulation, stakeholder pressure, and home/host country norms and traditions). Additionally, Louise has a keen interest in CSR and sustainability issues / governance at the international level particularly the work of the United Nations and initiatives in respect of CSR (e.g. Global Compact), business and human rights (e.g. UN Guiding Principles), corporate social performance (e.g. Principles for Responsible Investment, Global Reporting Initiative), and business ethics / CSR pedagogy (e.g. Principles for Responsible Management Education).

• Business ethics, CSR, sustainability and human rights
• Corporate governance
• Qualitative research methods

• PGCLTHE (2019) Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (De Montfort University)
• PhD (2015) Human Rights & CSR in UK companies (Cardiff University)
• MSc (2009) Social Science Research Methods (Cardiff University)
• MA (2002) Human Rights (Essex University)
• BSc (2001) Applied Social Studies (Bath University)

• CORP2550: Business and Sustainability (UG)
• CORP3547: Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics (UG)
• CORP5060: Corporate Social Responsibility (PG)

• FHEA (Fellow of the Higher Education Academy)
• DMU Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Forum
• Academy of Management
• Global Business and Human Rights Scholars Association

• Obara, L.J. 2018. Individuals or Institutions? Exploring the Extent of Corporate  Responsibility for Human Rights in UK Companies. The 78th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, August 10-14th, 2018, Chicago, USA.
• Obara, L.J. 2017. CSR and Corporate Governance: The Role of CSR Managers. The 16th International Conference on CSR and 7th Organisational Governance Conference, August 30 - September 1, University of Derby, UK.
• Obara, L. J. 2011. Business and Human Rights: How Companies Determine their Human Rights Responsibilities. Corporate Responsibility Research Conference, September 12-14, Leeds, UK.
• Obara, L. J. 2008. The International Business Sectors Engagement with Human Rights: A Study of Company Human Rights Policies. ICCSR 6th Annual Symposium, November 7, Nottingham, UK.
• Obara. L. J. 2006. Land Use Disputes in Ghana's Mining Communities: Developing Sustainable Strategies. International Sustainable Development Research Conference, April 6-8, Hong Kong.
• Obara, L. J. and Jenkins, H. 2006. Corporate Social Responsibility in the Mining Industry - The Risk of Community Dependency. The Corporate Responsibility Research Conference, September 4-5, Dublin, Ireland.