Dr Lynn Wilson is the Adam Smith Research Fellow, a post-doctoral position, at the Adam Smith Business School. She holds a PhD in Management from the University of Glasgow (2018 -2022), along with a Master of Research (2017 -18), University of Glasgow. Other qualifications include a Master of Fashion and Textile, Nottingham Trent University and a Bachelor of Design (Hons), Dundee University. Lynn is a committed practitioner of academic knowledge exchange, and engages with many community groups, schools and special interest groups voluntarily to share knowledge about the transition to product circularity. Her research interests span expertimental research methods and interdisciplinary research.

Prior to completing her PhD, she was part of the Circular Economy team, Zero Wast Scotland, initially as the Textile Manager (2013-2016), implementing a three-year circular capacity building strategy in the Scottish textile sector, and leading on Scotland’s implementation of the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP) and the UK, Love Your Clothes campaign. From 2016 -2017, she held the Circular Manufacturing portfolio (2016 -2017), Zero Waste Scotland, implementing an Industry 4.0 digital, circular strategy, within the National Manufacturing Action Plan. A seminal life experience of working in international development, teaching textile production, in Botswana, from 1996 -2000, has shaped her research interests and commitment to identifying solutions to reduce the climate crisis.

In 2022, Lynn launched Circular Design Synergy, a business consultancy applying her academic nd and professional experience to support businesses to transition to circular practice, by offering research, training and thought leadership, which was supported by Creative Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Creative Entrepreneur programme.

Lynn is a member of the School's Marketing research cluster.

Lynn’s research interests are focused on consumer and industry transition to the circular economy and explores two key research areas.

Areas of expertise:

• Consumer lived experiences and perceptions of clothing contamination.
• Business models to enable the transition to clothing circularity.

Her approach is qualitative and ethnographic.

Lynn has translated her PhD research into a white paper, Evidencing the Need for a National Citizens Clothing Circularity Strategy, presented to the Scottish Parliament, Cross Party Group for the Circular Economy, in 2023. In 2022, her PhD thesis was explored at a high level, through a series of audio-visual podcasts, unpacking each chapter by interviewing guests whose work, influenced the thesis. Lynn is now in the process of developing and writing her publishing strategy informed by her PhD.

Other research interests:

• Interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary research
• Arts based ethnographic research methods

List by: Type | Date

• August, 2024: Economic Social Research Council, Festival of Social Science, University of Glasgow, (£1100)
• August, 2024: Crucible Seed funding, University of Glasgow (£5,160)
• April, 2024: Innovation Audit fund, University of Glasgow (£5000). 
• 2023: Ambitious Interdisciplinary Research fund, College of Social Science, University of Glasgow,(£4000). 
• 2022/23: Glasgow Knowledge Exchange Fund, University of Glasgow (£30,000), Co-I, led by Professor Deirdre Shaw
• 2022: Impact Acceleration Accounts (IAAs) ASBS (£10,000), Co-I, led by Professor Deirdre Shaw
• 2022/23: Creative Informatics, University of Edinburgh (£12,000)
• 2015: The Churchill Foundation, Travel Fellowship to Japan (£10,000)

University of Glasgow

Management, dissertation supervision (MSc)

Masters in Research, dissertation supervision (MRes)

International Digital Marketing, dissertation supervision (MSc)

Bachelor of Science Business and Management dissertation supervision (MGT 4002P)

Business Ethics, undergraduate (MGT 4028)

External Examiner

MSc International Fashion Management, Robert Gordon University, 2023 - current

Sample of esteemed scholar positions:

• Visiting scholar, University of Westminster, 2020 - current
• Visiting scholar, Robert Gordon University, 2017 - 2023

International keynote

• Use-less Conference, Hoschule Hannover, Germany, 21st October, 2023. 
• Guest speaker, Bunka College of Fashion, Tokyo, Japan, 2015

Industry leadership:

• Founder and Creative Director, Circular Design Synergy Ltd, 2022 – current (www.circular-ds.com)
• Member, Consumer and Public Interest Network, British Standards Institution (BSI)
• Member BSI TCI/100 Textiles and Clothing

Governance and policy leadership:

• Non-executive Director, Architecture and Design Scotland (appointed by Scottish Government, 2018 -2026)
• Cross Party Group on the Circular Economy, Scottish Parliament, member

Civic engagement:

• Fellow, Royal Society for the Arts, Commerce and Manufacture, 2015 - current

CV: Lynn Wilson