Dr. Katrin Dreyer-Gibney is a Research Lead, Lecturer, and HR Project Manager at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, with over 30 years of experience in the international service industry, higher education operations, and global shared services. She holds a PhD from Trinity Business School, an MBA from the Open University, and a Business degree from Munich’s College of Commerce.
In her current research, Katrin collaborates with European small and medium-sized enterprises to operationalise the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her primary focus is on sustainability-oriented service innovation (SOSI), employing action research and transdisciplinary collaboration to develop practical frameworks that transform sustainability visions into actionable strategies.
In addition to her research, Katrin mentors international students pursuing a master’s degree in Global Challenges for Sustainability, nurturing the next generation of sustainability leaders.
Katrin has worked with organisations such as Deutsche Bahn, Munich Airport, Hilton International, Hertz International, and Trinity College Dublin. She has played a key role in centralising European shared services, establishing multilingual customer service operations, modernising university administrative support, managing the commercialisation of university services, and implementing policies in areas such as emergency planning, risk management, and workplace wellbeing.
Throughout her career, Katrin has integrated academic expertise with practical application. Her innovative approach to teaching earned her the Teaching Excellence Award from Trinity Business School for her work on the Sustainable Operations Management Programme. Alongside her teaching and research responsibilities, she holds a senior management position in Trinity’s Human Resources Department, where she continues to streamline, improve, and support services for Trinity employees.
An accomplished powerlifter, Dr. Dreyer-Gibney has set World, European, and National records over the last decade.
Dr. Katrin Dreyer-Gibney 