The team
Here, you will find information about all of the academics working within the Centre for Brexit Studies.
The Centre boasts staff from across the University, displaying the cross-sector impact Brexit will have on the UK, Europe, and the world.
Centre Director
Alex de Ruyter is a professor at Birmingham City University and serves as Director of its Centre for Brexit Studies. He brings a wealth of research experience and academic engagement in the areas of globalisation, regional economic development, labour market and social exclusion issues. He has published over 60 academic outputs in leading national and international economic journals and has been the recipient of research funding, including being an investigator in an ESRC funded study on the effects on subsequent employment experience of workers from MG Rover after plant closure in 2005.
Professor de Ruyter has undertaken numerous media interviews and is currently researching on the likely impact of Brexit on the UK automotive supply chain in addition to exploring working in the "gig economy". He is also a Board member of the Regional Studies Association.
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Professor David Bailey
Visiting Professor
David Bailey is Professor of Business Economics at Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. He has written extensively on industrial and regional policy, especially in relation to manufacturing and the auto industry. His recent research has been funded by a number of state and private organisations. He is now...
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Gill Bentley
Visiting Senior Fellow
Gill Bentley, Visiting Senior Fellow is a former lecturer at the University of Birmingham, has published widely on economic development, policy and governance issues, at local, regional, national, and EU spatial scales. Having a particular interest in the automotive industry, she worked with Prof Alex de Ruyter and the team...
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Ferry Biedermann
Visiting Fellow
Ferry Biedermann is a journalist and foreign correspondent interested in international relations and political trends, particularly concerning issues such as populism and migration. He has reported from Europe on a broad range of issues, from arts and culture to socio-economic issues and international politics. He has...
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Professor Les Budd
Visiting Professor
Leslie Budd is Reader in Social Enterprise at the Open University Business School. He is an economist who has published extensively on urban and regional economies in relation to the European Union, digital social inclusion, and global financial markets.
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John Clancy
Visiting Professor
John Clancy is the former Leader of Birmingham City Council (2015-2017), the largest local authority in Europe, based in the U.K.’s second biggest city. He oversaw an annual revenue budget of over £3 billion, and over £6 billion in assets. He has been a Labour councillor for Hodge Hill ward initially and then Quinton ward since...
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Prof Dr Martin Eley
Visiting Professor
Martin Eley is a Professor at Westford University College in the UAE helping deliver doctorate programs in partnership with Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM), and a Visiting Professor in the Centre for Brexit Studies, Birmingham City University. He is a highly experienced and successful Executive Manager,...
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Lucy Fellows
Events and Marketing Assistant
Lucy is currently undertaking an Events and Marketing part-time role with the Centre for Brexit Studies. She is also a Public Relations and Media student at Birmingham City University, graduating in 2025. Her role at CBS helps her gain real-life experience whilst completing her studies, giving her valuable skills and knowledge...
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Dr Arantza Gomez Arana
Visiting Fellow
Arantza enjoys engaging in academic discussions with undergraduate, postgraduate students and colleagues, through the development of critical thinking in Social Sciences.
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Dr Lily Hamourtziadou
Senior Lecturer
Dr Lily Hamourtziadou is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Criminology at Birmingham City University. She lectures on human rights, casualty recording, war crimes, international relations theory, nationalism and terrorism.
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Ian Henry
Visiting Professor
Ian Henry is the Owner and Managing Director of AutoAnalysis and Visiting Professor at the Centre for Brexit Studies.