Dr. Valentina Gorchakova
Valentina is an experienced academic and marketing professional with a strong background in tourism, hospitality, and events. She holds a PhD from AUT University, New Zealand, and is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy. Dr. Gorchakova has extensive experience in higher education leadership and programme management, overseeing academic provision, quality, and student learning experience, including in online and hybrid environments.
Valentina’s professional experience spans marketing, event management, and international project development. Her current research and teaching focus on marketing destinations, services, and experiences, cultural and urban tourism, visitor experience and behaviour, and events.
Valentina has supervised multiple undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students, published widely, and regularly presents at international conferences, contributing to both academic scholarship and industry practice.
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Doctor of Philosophy (2014-2017)
AUT University, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, New Zealand - Master in International Relations (2005-2007)
St.Petersburg State University, School of International Relations (St.Petersburg, Russia) - BA, International Relations (2001-2005)
St.Petersburg State University, School of International Relations (St.Petersburg, Russia)
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
- University of Derby (UK)
Senior Lecturer/ Academic Lead in Business and Management (2017-2025)
Lecturer in Hospitality and Business (2017) - AUT University (New Zealand)
Associate lecturer, School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events and School of Business and Law (2013-2015)
RESEARCH AREAS / FIELDS
- Destination marketing, visitor experience and behaviour
- Event management and marketing
- Online education & digital pedagogy
RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
- Antchak, V., Gorchakova, V., & Rossetti, G. (2022).
The value of events in times of uncertainty: Insights from balcony performances in Italy during the COVID-19 lockdown. Annals of Leisure Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2022.2046117 - Kotera, Y., Gorchakova, V., Maybury, S., Edwards, A.-M., & Kotera, H. (2022).
Comparison of Academic Motivation between Business and Healthcare Students in Online Learning: A Concurrent Nested Mixed-Method Study. Healthcare, 10(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10081580 - Gorchakova, V., & Hyde, K. (2022).
The impact on well-being of experiences at cultural events. Event Management, 26(1), pp. 89-106. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599521X16192004803638 - Gorchakova, V., & Berdysheva, E. (2024).
Agility of business events: Case study of SHIFT Business Festival (pp. 84-87). In Event Studies: Theory and Management for Planned Events by Getz, D and Page, S. - Gorchakova, V., & Antchak, V. (2021).
An eventful tourism city: Hosting major international exhibitions in Melbourne. In A. M. Morrison & A. J. Coca-Stefaniak (Eds.), Routledge handbook of tourism cities (pp. 174-186). Abingdon, England: Routledge - Gorchakova, V. (2020).
Creative marketing. In V. Antchak & O. Ramsbottom (Eds.), The fundamentals of event design (pp. 153-176) Abingdon, England: Routledge
RESEARCH & CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS / EXHIBITIONS
- Rahil, W. & Gorchakova, V. (2024)
Experiences of Afghan female refugees in Germany: a capability approach
Derby Refugee Conference
University of Derby, Derby, UK - Gorchakova, V. & Rossetti, G. (2021)
Balconies as event spaces during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy
ATLAS Annual Conference – Tourism 21: Re-building Tourism – Continuities and Changes - Gorchakova, V. (2019)
3Es experiential framework: a creative approach to events and placemaking
ATLAS Annual Conference – Tourism Transformations
Girona, Spain
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