PhD student receives award at International Conference on Criminology and Criminal Justice

University of Gloucestershire PhD student Benjamin Fisk has been recognised for his contribution to the field of restorative justice at the International Conference on Criminology and Criminal Justice in Sri Lanka.

Benjamin, a researcher and part-time lecturer within the University’s School of Business, Computing, and Social Sciences, received the Professor Jaishankar Outstanding Emerging Scholar Award for the quality and presentation of his research paper ‘Evidencing Success for Subjective Stakeholders in Restorative Justice’.

The conference, hosted by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, enabled scholars, practitioners and policymakers to honour impactful research and share knowledge and experiences around criminology and criminal justice.

Benjamin is currently completing his PhD research project under the supervision of Associate Professor Dr Jonathan Hobson and Dr Anamika Twyman-Ghoshal for a co-funded University of Gloucestershire and Restorative Justice Council studentship, ‘Evidencing Success and Successful Evidence in Restorative Work: Developing Models of Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Impact’.

He has worked as a researcher for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Restorative Justice and is finalising research with an academic and private industry partnership to explore the potential for a national repository of case studies to support and improve the dissemination of the evidence of success across restorative practice and restorative justice services in the UK.

Benjamin, a registered social worker, leader in international education, and restorative practices consultant, said: “Receiving the Professor Jaishankar Outstanding Emerging Scholar Award at the  International Conference on Criminology and Criminal Justice means so much to me professionally as an early career researcher.

“It shows that what I have found is also of interest to others, has application in an international context, and can support the global uptake of restorative practice when working with people who have been harmed, and those who have caused harm. 

“Personally, it’s a big boost as I approach the end of my PhD journey, helping me remember why I took this path in the first place three years ago and reminding me how much I have grown since that time.”