Research
Dane completed his ESRC-funded PhD at the University of Liverpool Management School in 2014. His doctoral research examined the development and agglomeration of the video games and life sciences industries within the Liverpool City Region, undertaken in collaboration with Liverpool Vision. This work established his research interests in regional economic development, industrial clustering, place leadership and innovation-led growth.
His disciplinary research continues to explore strategy beyond the firm, focusing on place leadership, regional competitiveness, innovation ecosystems and the strategic development of cities and regions. Through research and consultancy, he has worked with local authorities, combined authorities and regional partners across the North of England on issues relating to innovation districts, creative and knowledge-intensive industries, and inclusive economic development.
Alongside his strategy research, Dane has established a growing international profile in management education scholarship. His pedagogic research examines how business schools can better prepare managers and leaders through authentic, experiential and technology-enhanced learning. His work focuses on consultancy-based education, management simulations, international experiential learning, responsible leadership development and the integration of artificial intelligence into management education.
More recently, his research has explored the use of AI avatars to enhance confidence, communication and professional skills, alongside consultancy pedagogy as a mechanism for embedding real-world learning into MBA curricula. He has presented this work at leading international conferences, including AMBA, EFMD, Advance HE and the Chartered Association of Business Schools, and continues to collaborate with colleagues and industry partners to evaluate innovative approaches to management education.
Across both his disciplinary and pedagogic research, Dane is committed to producing evidence-informed scholarship that bridges theory and practice, advances the quality of management education, and develops graduates equipped to lead responsibly in increasingly complex organisational and societal contexts.