Maniatakou´s PhD project examines how sustainability-themed partnerships that consist of influential actors impact transformations towards just and sustainable futures

Several transnational corporations, investors, philanthropic and non-governmental organizations have combined their efforts to respond to social and environmental challenges. Maniatakou´s research project focuses on such large-scale actor coalitions (LSACs) from the food and finance sectors that aim to drive transformational change within their sectors. More specifically, she investigates the strategies used by LSACs to shift standards and norms, shape value systems, experiment with innovations, influence their sectors and advocate for pro-environmental policies. By collecting empirical data and employing mixed-method approaches, she aims to understand the roles and capacities of LSACs to impact transformative change.

Maniatakou holds a MSc degree in Social-Ecological Resilience for Sustainable Development from Stockholm Resilience Centre and a BA in Environment and Development from McGill University. Prior to her PhD position, she worked as a research assistant in the Global Economic Dynamics and Biosphere (GEDB) programme at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. At GEDB, she mainly supported research within the Biosphere Finance programme theme.