Nikki McQuillan

Mrs Nikki McQuillan is Course Director for the BSc (Hons) International Hospitality Management. Nikki studied a BA (Hons) Hospitality Management at Huddersfield University.  In 2003 she completed an MA in Human Resource Management and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.  In 2011 Nikki returned to lecture in Higher Education where she completed her Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Fellow of the University’s Centre for Higher Education and Research Practice.  Prior to joining the Ulster University Business School, Nikki was co-founder of the streat cafe business which grew from one cafe to a large franchise business with 45 sites across Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, and Scotland.  She was involved in company strategy, directed human resource and training strategy, and project managed the set-up, fit-out and people plans of all new cafe openings until the business acquisition in January 2010.  Investors in People have recognised Nikki’s human resource strategy and the streat was the first cafe and the first franchised business ever to win a UK National Training Award as well as winning IFA’s Franchise of the Year in 2010.  Developing a research profile has initially been focused on the development and sustainability of the student experience at Ulster and this is documented in her publications to date.  Nikki recently achieved her doctorate exploring entrepreneurial leadership and augmented SME growth.  Nikki’s teaching specialisms are in event management, leadership and human resource management.  She is currently a Business and Enterprise external examiner for Queens University Belfast-Teacher training colleges.  She is a past volunteer Board Member of Young at Art, Belfast, Mallusk Enterprise Park and Interim Chair for the Institute of Hospitality.  Nikki is now a member of the NI Hospitality and Tourism Skills (HATS) Network contributing her industry and academic excellence skills to transform lives, deliver positive outcomes in society and build sustainable futures for all.