Profile

Muhammad Azam Roomi, Principal Lecturer

Muhammad Azam Roomi is a Principal Lecturer and the Director of Research at the Centre for Women's Enterprise, University of Bedfordshire, UK. He has successfully completed a variety of research and teaching / training assignments for the establishment and development of entrepreneurial ventures at international level and has been honoured with the University of Bedfordshire Commitment Award for two consecutive years (2008 and 2009) as well as the Dean’s Research Award for 2008-09.

Roomi’s major research works have been focused on the growth and development of enterprises in the UK, Pakistan, and other Asian and Islamic countries. He has recently won the ICSB/NWBC/IJGE Best Paper Award on Women’s Entrepreneurship at the ICSB world conference, 2009. In recognition of his work as an academic / researcher, he was selected as:

• NCGE-UK Entrepreneurship Education Fellow in 2008
• Prowess-Lloyds TSB UK Enterprise Researcher (finalist) 2007-08
• Government of the UK Research Scholar in 2005
• University of London-Thomas Holloway Scholar in 2004
• World Bank-Joint Japan Scholar in 2003
• Bertelsmann's Reinhard Mohn Fellow in 2002
• LEAD (Leadership for Environment and Development) Fellow in 2001

Roomi has served as a consultant for enterprise development to several national and international organisations such as the Government of Pakistan, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Union, the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, Luton Borough Council, Prowess, LEAD, IUCN, UN-APCTT, ILO, and EEDA. He also sits at the boards of Institute of Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship as Vice President and Marsh Farm Community Resource Trust as the Chairperson.

Selected Research Work

• Roomi, M. A. (2010). Behind the Veil: Women's Capacity Building and Enterprise Development in Pakistan. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, 2 (2), 150-172. (With Harrison, P.)
• Roomi. M. A., (2010). Analysis of the effectiveness of marketing programmes adopted by small to medium-sized enterprises. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 17(2), 184-203. (With Parrott, G., and Holliman, D.)
• Roomi, M. A. (2009). Impact of Social Capital Development and Use in the Growth Process of Women-Owned Firms. International Journal of Enterprising Culture, 17(4), 473 - 495.
• Roomi, M. A. (2009). Women-owned Enterprises in the UK: Analysis of Factors Influencing the Growth Process. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 16(2), 270 – 288. (With Harrison, P. and Beaumont-Kerridge, J.)
• Roomi, M. A. (2008). Training Needs of Women-owned SMEs in England. Education + Training, 50 (8/9), 687 – 696. (With Harrison, P.)
• Roomi, M. A. (2008). Barriers to Development and Progression of Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan.  International Journal of Entrepreneurship, 17(1), 59- 72. (With Parrott, G.)
• Roomi, M. A. (2008). Impact of Women-only Entrepreneurship Training in Islamic Society. In Women's Entrepreneurship and Social Capital: A Dialogue and Construction, I. Aaltio, E. Sundin, and P. Kyrö, Eds. Denmark: Copenhagen Business School Press. (With Harrison, P.)
• Roomi, M. A. (2010). Women-only MBA Programme: A Solution to Attract More Women Towards Management Education? Gender, Work and Organisation. (under-review). (With Harrison, P. , Cooper, V., and Davies, P.)
• Roomi, M. A. (2010). Social Capital, Human Capital and the Growth of Women-owned Entrepreneurial Firms. Entrepreneurship and Regional Development. (under-review)
• Roomi, M.A. (2010). Entrepreneurial Capital, Social Values and Cultural Traditions: Growth of Women-Owned Enterprises in Pakistan. International Small Business Journal. (under-review)
• Roomi, M. A. (2001). Commercialisation of Business Development Services through NGOs – A Case Study of AKRSP-Pakistan. Small Business Services in Asian Countries. London, UK: ITDG. (With Newnham, J.)
• Roomi, M. A. (2000). Proposed Strategy for the Establishment and Development of Small and Medium Enterprises in Pakistan. Small and Medium Enterprises in Asian Pacific Countries: Linkages and Policy Support, New York, USA: Nova Science Publishers

Refereed Conference Contribution

• Roomi, M.A. (2009). Entrepreneurial Capital, Social Values and Cultural Traditions: Growth of Women-owned Enterprises in Pakistan. Paper presented at 55th ICSB Conference, Seoul, Korea: June. (Winner of ICSB/IJGE/NWBC Best Paper Award on Women’s Entrepreneurship)
• Roomi, M.A. (2009). Teaching Entrepreneurial Leadership: clarifying the concept for the classroom. Paper presented at 55th ICSB Conference, Seoul, Korea: June. (Finalist- Best Theoretical Paper Award)
• Roomi, M. A. (2009). Social Capital, Human Capital and the Growth of Women-owned Entrepreneurial Firms. Paper presented at 2009 Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference. Bason-Wellesley, USA: May
• Roomi, M. A. (2008). Women-owned Enterprises in Pakistan: Factors Influencing Growth. Diana International Symposium on Women’s Entrepreneurship. Belfast, November
• Roomi, M. A. (2008). Transforming Contacts into Resources: Women Entrepreneurs in the UK-Building, Maintaining, and Utilising Social Capital. Paper presented at 2008 Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference. Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA: May
• Roomi, M. A. (2007). Women-owned Enterprises in the UK: Analysis of Factors Influencing the Growth Process. 34th ISBC Annual Conference. Bangkok, November
• Roomi, M. A. (2006). Women’s Entrepreneurship: A Systematic Review of Contemporary Perspectives. Paper presented at 51st ICSB Conference. Melbourne, Australia: June
• Roomi, M. A. (2005). The Impact of Entrepreneurship Training on Entrepreneurial Performance of Women. Paper presented at 28th ISBE Annual Conference. Blackpool, UK: November

Conferences / Practitioners’ Events

• Roomi, M. A. (2009). Role of Women’s Leadership in Economic Development. Paper presented at CIPE Women’s Leadership Conference, Lahore, Pakistan: June. (Invited speaker)
• Roomi, M. A. (2009). Role of Business Schools in Entrepreneurship Development. Paper presented at LUMS Entrepreneurship Development Conference, Lahore, Pakistan: June. (Invited speaker)
• Roomi, M. A. (2009). Entrepreneurship Development in Pakistan – Issues and Opportunities. Business Policy Roundtable organised by CIPE. Pakistan, February. (Invited speaker)
• Roomi M.A. (2008). Role of Entrepreneurship in Local and Regional Economic Development. Annual Prize Distribution at Dunstable College, Bedfordshire, UK, June. (Keynote Address)
• Roomi, M. A. (2007). Women-owned Enterprises in the UK: Analysis of Factors Influencing the Growth Process. 34th ISBC Annual Conference. Bangkok, November. (Invited speaker)
• Roomi M. A. (2007). Women’s Entrepreneurship Development in Pakistan-Policy Implications. Business Policy Roundtable organised by CIPE. Pakistan, January. (Invited speaker)

Contact Details

Muhammad Azam Roomi
Principal Lecturer – Entrepreneurship
Department of Strategy and Human Resource Management
University of Bedfordshire Business School
University of Bedfordshire
Vicarage Street
Luton
LU1 3JU

E: muhammad.roomi@beds.ac.uk