Nicky Garsten

Dr Nicky Garsten PhD, FRSA, SFHEA, MCIPR, MPRCA

Associate Professor in Non-Profit and Business Communications and Co-Leader of the Personal Professional Development Curriculum Redesign in the Business Faculty

Key details

Dr Nicky Garsten

Associate Professor in Non-Profit and Business Communications and Co-Leader of the Personal Professional Development Curriculum Redesign in the Business Faculty

Nicky has a background in strategic communications and has led teams at a top 10 global PR consultancy that won national awards with their clients.  She has taught communications at the University of Greenwich for over 10 years and has contributed to change management within the Business Faculty.

At the University of Greenwich, Nicky co-leads the Personal Professional Development Curriculum Redesign in the Business Faculty. Her and Dr Crystal Tsay’s recommendations to enhance students' academic skills, employability and wellbeing are being rolled out at first, second and third-year levels.

Previously, Nicky co-created and was the consultant to an employability scheme in the Business Faculty. The Greenwich Employability Passport is now embedded into the curriculum across the Greenwich Business School and has been adopted across the University. Thousands of students have now participated in the scheme.

Nicky leads modules on the CIPR-recognised BA (Hons) in PR and Communications degree. She is founder of the BA modules, ‘Third Sector PR’ and 'Communications Audit'. Recently she co-chaired a national virtual conference with Kevin Ruck of PR Academy (2020) bringing together PR practitioners, academics and students.

She directed the PR and Communications BA for 8 years, shaping the syllabus and working with industry bodies, senior practitioners and alumni. Student destinations range from PR roles at the BBC to Weber Shandwick, to marketing roles and PG studies. Whilst leading the programme she initiated an Erasmus partnership with Lund University.

Previously, Nicky was a healthcare journalist and went on to run the RNIB Press Office. She later became Associate Director at global top 10 PR consultancy, MS&L where she ran international healthcare campaigns and co-directed campaigns with clients that won national PR awards. Then, as a freelance, interim Director of Comms at the Media Trust, she set up Community Newswire, with the Press Association.

Marketing and advertising

Awards
  • Senior Fellow, Higher Education Authority
  • Fellow, Royal Society of Arts

National prizes in the field of public relations from my professional life included:

  • The 'Saving Upsets Campaign' on food hygiene that I led at MS&L with the Health Education Authority. It won the PR Week Award for 'The Best Public Sector PR Campaign Award' 2000 and an 'Outstanding Practice Award' from the PRCA in 2000.
  • The 'Listen to Your Heart Campaign' with the British Heart Foundation won the Marketing Magazine/PRCA 1998 Gold Award for PR Effectiveness in the non-commercial sector.

Recognition
  • Review Panel Member for the SJR Q1 ranked journal, Public Relations Review: A Global Journal of Research and Comment (2011 – present)
  • PRCA Charity and Non-Profit Committee Member (PRCA). 2016- present.
  • External Examiner, Cardiff University on the MA in ‘International Public Relations and Global Communications Management’
  • Previously External Examiner at Leeds Beckett University (2013-2017) and the University of Southampton Solent (2011-2015)
  • Member of the PRCA's Independent Access Commission to address diversity issues in the PR industry (2011-2012).
  • Previously, judge of international and national PR awards

Research / Scholarly interests

Nicky’s research interests include NGO communications and the business of communications. She’s co-editor (2018), 'Communicating Causes: Strategic Public Relations for the Non-Profit Sector' with Prof. Ian Bruce. Channel 4 Newscaster, Jon Snow, states this Routledge textbook is "a go-to book" and "much needed”. She is currently conducting research into NGO reporting.

Nicky also conducts research into history of specialisation within the public relations industry. She is of co-writing a Routledge book on pitching for PR business.

Recent publications
  • Garsten, N. and Bruce, I. (2018), eds. Communicating Causes: Strategic Public Relations in the Non-Profit Sector. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Garsten, N. (2018) 'It's Good to Talk in the Digital Age'. Compass: Journal of Learning and Teaching, University of Greenwich. Volume 11 No 1, TEL Special Edition.
  • Garsten, N. and Bruce, I. (2018) 'Introducing Communicating Causes: Strategic Public Relations in the Non-Profit Sector'. In (eds) N. Garsten, and I. Bruce, Communicating Causes: Strategic Public Relations in the Non-Profit Sector. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Garsten, N.; Read, K.; and Yassim, M. (2018) 'Strategic Illustrations of NFP Success? An Exploration into the Evolution, Purposes and Ethics of Case Stu dies'. In (eds) N. Garsten, and I. Bruce, Communicating Causes: Strategic Public Relations in the Non-Profit Sector. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Smith, D.H.; Lang, S.; and Garsten, N., (2018), 'NGO Communications in a One-Party State: The Context and Characteristics of Non-profit Advocacy Communications in China'. In (eds) N. Garsten, and I. Bruce, Communicating Causes: Strategic Public Relations in the Non-Profit Sector. London and New York: Routledge.
  • Garsten, N., de Quincey, D., and Bruce, I. (2016), 'The Importance and Art of Articulating Thanks: Lessons from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)' in Hall, S. (ed.) #FuturePRoof: Second Edition. Chapter 39.

Presentations
  • Garsten, N., Read, K, and Diehl, C. 'The Fit To Partner Test: Theoretical and Practical Considerations for Establishing Corporate and NGO Partnerships in an Uncertain World.' Proceedings from BledCom 2018 A World in Crisis: The Role of Public Relations. Slovenia, July 6th 2018.
  • Panel Chair, (2017) 'Embedding Creativity in PR Teaching and the Curriculum' EUPRERA Annual Congress 2017, 12 October, LCC, London.
  • Garsten, N. and Robson, R. (2017) 'PR Theory as Playful Simile'. Invited micro-teaching showcase presentation, in the Educator's Forum at the EUPRERA Annual Congress 2017. 14 October, LCC, London.
  • Panel speaker (2017) at the Public Relations and Communications Association. (PRCA) Debate on PR Academics v. PR Industry. 15th February.
  • Cronin, B., Garsten, N., and de Quincey, E. (2016) Social media interaction techniques of UK charities: the case of Twitter', presented at the 2nd European Conference on Social Networks (EUSN) 17th June, 2016 at Sciences Po, PARIS.
  • Cagleisi, G. and Garsten, N. (2016) 'Greenwich Employability Passport: A Journey to Employment' presented at the Chartered Association of Business School's (CAB's) Conference on Learning, Teaching and Student Experience, 26 April, at Aston University, Birmingham.
  • Garsten, N., Apps, L., Haider, J., and Read, K., (2015), 'Embedding Employability in our Curriculum – What Works?' Conference on Integrating Employability Initiatives into Formative Assessment' at the University of Greenwich. 20th March, 2015.
  • On the organising group for the International Summit on Strategic Communications at the University of Greenwich, September 11-12th 2014. Panel chair.
  • Panel moderator (2014), "Growing leaders – are you ready for what is next?' at the International Summit on Strategic Communications, at the University of Greenwich, September 12th.
  • Garsten, N. and Howard, J. (2012) 'Defining the Global Phenomenon of PR Specialisation', at the 15th International Public Relations Research Conference, Miami, Florida. March 10th.
  • Garsten, N. and de Quincey, E., (2012) 'Tweeting Credibility and Thankfulness An Exploratory Study of Charity Twitter Accounts in the UK'. Presentation at 5th EUPRERA Spring Symposium: Web 2.0 in Governmental and NGO Communication in Europe. Berlin, February 17th.