Kiran Trehan

Kiran Trehan is Professor of Leadership and Enterprise Development, Director of External Engagement, Head of subject group for Entrepreneurship and local economy, and Co - Director of the Enterprise and diversity Alliance [EDA] at the University of Birmingham.

Professor Trehan’s research focuses on Entrepreneurship, leadership and diversity in the small firms sector, all of which are central to the economic and social policy agenda. Kiran Trehan is a key contributor to policy debates and has led a number of enterprise and business support initiatives, extensively published a number of journal articles, policy reports, books and book chapters in the field. Professor Trehan’ s work has been supported by grants from a full range of research funding bodies; including the Economic and Social Research Councils and Arts Humanities Research councils, government departments, regional and local agencies and the private sector.

Professor Trehan holds several national advisory roles that shape debates and policy in leadership Diversity and Enterprise development Small firms. She is also Vice President at the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship [ISBE] and visiting professor at Lancaster University. Previously she served as Sub Group Chair of the Enterprise mentoring group at the British Bankers association (BBA.) and has held board positions at the Institute of Leadership and Management, Small Firms Enterprise Development (SFEDI), which is the Government recognised UK standards setting body for business support and business enterprise. Prior to joining the University of Birmingham Kiran was Deputy Head of department at Lancaster University Management School.

Professor Trehan is part of the senior management team and leads on Business and external engagement for the Business School and the College of Social Sciences. A passionate advocate for business and public engagement, knowledge exchange has been at the heart of her work and has been highly influential in shaping and changing enterprise and diversity policy nationally and internationally. Professor Trehan was named as a ‘Woman of Change’ as part of the ‘Making Space’ initiative celebrating women’s leadership at the University of Birmingham,

Kiran is currently leading a major piece of research on leadership and diversity as part of Andy Street’s Mayoral Leadership Commission in the West Midlands; and is an Associate at the Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business at the Birmingham Business School.