Bianca Stumbitz

My key research interests include diversity and inclusion in the workplace, with an emphasis on gender and work-family related issues, as well as working conditions more broadly. I have specialist knowledge on the subject of maternity and paternity workplace policies and practices across the world, and have recently undertaken related research in Ghana, South Africa andMalaysia. I am currently Principal Investigator on a three-year ESRC-funded study on the Transition to Parenthood in UK SMEs, in collaboration with Working Families and the Fatherhood Institute. In another current study I am exploring awareness of menopause symptoms and workplace support in the higher education context. A further key stream of my work is related to social enterprise. Recent projects include studies on the role of community businesses in providing health and wellbeing services and ‘good work’, and on alternative social enterprise models for delivering health and social care public services. Funders of my work have included the International Labour Organization, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the EuropeanCommission. As part of my work, I have been advising multiple stakeholders, including employers, trade unions, government departments, international organizations and NGOs. I co-lead the Middlesex University Gender &Diversity Research Cluster, the International Committee of the US-based Work and Family Researchers Network, and I am a member of the Maternity ProtectionCommittee of the German Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens,Women and Youth.