PhD Defence: Dorothee Nussbruchs
In order to obtain the PhD degree, Dorothee Nussbruch has submitted her thesis entitled:
Local Business at the Frontlines:Cross-Sector Dynamics in Disaster Response and Resilience
As disasters are increasing in both frequency and severity, businesses have become vital actors in cross-sector efforts for disaster response and resilience. While multinational corporations often feature prominently in these initiatives and have been widely studied, the role of local businesses remains underexplored. This dissertation investigates the role of local businesses by examining a local intermediary organization that represents local businesses’ interests and seeks to integrate them into disaster response and resilience initiatives across multiple scales. It focuses particularly on the processes that shape the inclusion and exclusion of local businesses in cross-sectoral efforts, analyzing how the intermediary organization navigates engagements with national and international disaster governance systems. Through three interrelated articles, the dissertation draws on concepts from management studies and human geography to develop a socio-spatial perspective on cross-sector interactions, highlighting how local actors negotiate their roles in disaster response and resilience work and seek to access international humanitarian aid spaces. In doing so, the thesis advances debates on organizational resilience, cross-sector collaboration, and the spatial politics of humanitarian governance.
The thesis will be available from research.cbs.dk
Primary Supervisor:
Associate Professor Verena Girschik
Department of Management, Society and Communication
Copenhagen Business School
Secondary Supervisors:
Associate Professor Lotte Thomsen
Department of Management, Society and Communication
Copenhagen Business School
Assessment Committee:
Associate Professor Jacobo Ramirez (Chair)
Department of Management, Society and Communication
Copenhagen Business School
Professor Domenico Dentoni
Department of People and Organisations
Montpellier Business School
Associate Professor Adriane MacDonald
John Molson School of Business
Concordia University Montreal
Date: 7 october 2025
Time: 14:00-16:00
Online: TEAMS
*Please note that the microphone and camera of all spectators must be turned off.
Location: Dalgas Have
Room: DH.Ø.0.89
Reception: Faculty Club (ground floor next to canteen)
*The CBS PhD School will host a reception, which will take place immediately after the defence.