Victoria Foster is Director of the Centre for Social Responsibility and Associate Head of Department (Knowledge Exchange) in the Department of History, Geography and Social Sciences at Edge Hill University. Her work is defined by strategic leadership in enterprise, knowledge exchange and socially engaged, interdisciplinary research.

She has a strong track record of securing external funding and developing impactful collaborations across academia, the public sector and third sector organisations. Her research and knowledge exchange activities have been funded by major bodies including the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), NHS partners and international funders. She is UK Principal Investigator on a Trans-Atlantic Platform project on adaptive capacity and democratic performance, working with partners in Canada, the USA and Europe.

Victoria leads the Centre for Social Responsibility, an institution-wide initiative that brings together academics, external partners and visiting fellows to develop collaborative, socially responsive research and knowledge exchange. Through this role, she has significantly expanded external partnership activity, supported colleagues in securing funding, and developed initiatives that translate research into real-world impact.

Her research focuses on participatory, arts-based and community-engaged methodologies, with a particular emphasis on social justice, community wealth building, democratic engagement and the role of creative practice in research and policy. Her work has influenced policy and practice across local authorities, third sector organisations and regional partnerships, and has contributed to the development of civic engagement strategies and place-based collaboration.

Victoria has an established international profile. She is Visiting Professor of Community Engaged Scholarship at the University of Central Florida and has delivered invited workshops, doctoral training and masterclasses at universities including Roskilde University, the University of Victoria, Tel Aviv University and Stellenbosch Business School.

Alongside her research and enterprise leadership, she is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE and has extensive experience in curriculum development, doctoral supervision and pedagogic innovation. Her teaching integrates research-led and creative approaches, supporting students to engage critically with social issues and develop applied research skills.