Historian.
Author.
Advocate.

Anchor 1

About

ABOUT

I am a historian, researcher, and advocate with a passion for uncovering the human stories hidden within the archives of the early modern Mediterranean.

My work focuses on the complex relationships between war, commerce, diplomacy, and faith in the sixteenth century, exploring how individuals navigated a world shaped by conflict, ambition, and opportunity. I am particularly interested in recovering the experiences of people whose voices are often absent from traditional histories, from sailors and captives to merchants and migrants.

Beyond academia, I am actively involved in healthcare advocacy and public engagement, working with patients, researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to advance discussions on patient care, women’s health, and improving diagnostic outcomes.

I am guided by a belief that every story has the power to deepen our understanding of the human experience.

Doctoral Research

My doctoral research at the University of Manchester explores how military orders operated at the intersection of crusading ideology, state-building, and economic ambition. Through archival research in Britain and Europe, I seek to recover the experiences of individuals whose voices are often absent from traditional historical narratives, including sailors, captives, merchants, and volunteers.

Research and Publications

My work focuses on the human dimension of Mediterranean history, exploring how ordinary people navigated a world shaped by conflict, trade, diplomacy, and religious difference. I have presented my research at international conferences and workshops in the United Kingdom, Europe, and South Africa, and have contributed to discussions on early modern warfare, cross-cultural exchange, and Mediterranean connectivity. My doctoral thesis, War, Wealth and God's Will: The Order of Saint Stephen between Crusade and Commerce in the Late Sixteenth Century, is currently being prepared for publication.

Teaching and Public Engagement

Alongside my research, I am passionate about education and public engagement. I have taught and mentored students through my work with the University of Manchester, England, and through nationally award-winning extracurricular history programmes with high school students in Lancashire, England. I believe that historical research should be accessible beyond the university environment and have contributed to public talks, podcasts, conferences, and outreach initiatives designed to engage wider audiences with the past.

Healthcare Advocacy

Beyond academia, I am actively involved in healthcare advocacy and public engagement, contributing to discussions on patient care, women's health, and antimicrobial stewardship. I work with patient groups, researchers, clinicians, and policy stakeholders to support research into complex health conditions, patient outcomes, and the delivery of effective, evidence-based care. Through this work, I aim to help ensure that patient voices are represented in research, policy, and clinical practice.

A Personal Note

At the heart of my work is a fascination with people: their choices, their experiences, and the stories they leave behind. Whether studying the records of a sixteenth-century merchant in Livorno, a captive aboard a Mediterranean galley, or engaging with contemporary healthcare challenges, I am ultimately interested in how individual experiences shape wider historical and social change.

Education

PhD History (2020–Present), University of Manchester.

My doctoral research examines the Order of Saint Stephen and its role within the political, military, and commercial networks of the late sixteenth-century Mediterranean. Through extensive archival research, my work explores the relationship between crusading ideology, diplomacy, commerce, and state formation in Grand Ducal Tuscany and the wider Mediterranean world.

Visiting Research Student (2022), European University Institute, Florence.

Undertook research in Florence, working closely with Italian archival collections and engaging with an international community of scholars specialising in Mediterranean, European, and global history.

MA History (2020), University of Manchester.

Specialised in early modern history, Mediterranean studies, and archival research methodologies. Graduated with Distinction.

MA Classics and Ancient History (2018), University of Manchester.

Developed a broad foundation in classical civilisation, ancient history, and historical analysis, with particular interests in cultural exchange and the Mediterranean world.

BA (Hons) Fine Art, First Class Honours (2017), University of Central Lancashire.

Graduated with first-class honours. My artistic training fostered a strong appreciation for visual culture, material evidence, and creative approaches to interpretation, interests that continue to inform my historical research today.

ACADEMIC WORK

Explore Georgina's publications, research, and current projects. Her work explores the intersections of war, commerce, diplomacy, and human experience, while also contributing to conversations on healthcare advocacy and public engagement. Her doctoral thesis, War, Wealth and God's Will: The Order of Saint Stephen between Crusade and Commerce in the Late Sixteenth Century, is currently being prepared for publication.

Curriculum Vitae

Profile:

I am a military historian specialising in the early modern Mediterranean, with particular expertise in the Order of Saint Stephen, maritime conflict, diplomacy, and cross-cultural exchange between Christian and Ottoman societies.

My doctoral research at the University of Manchester, entitled War, Wealth and God's Will: The Order of Saint Stephen between Crusade and Commerce in the Late Sixteenth Century, explores the intersection of religion, commerce, warfare, and diplomacy in the Mediterranean world. My work examines how military orders operated as political, religious, and commercial institutions while contributing to wider debates surrounding identity, empire, and international relations. Alongside my academic research, I have extensive experience teaching at university level, presenting at international conferences, engaging with public audiences, and contributing to collaborative research projects. I am passionate about making historical research accessible beyond academia through public engagement, outreach, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Education:

University of Manchester PhD History (2020–Present)
European University Institute, Florence Visiting Studentship (2022)
University of Manchester MA History (Distinction) (2019–2020)
University of Manchester MA Classics and Ancient History (2017–2018)
University of Central Lancashire BA (Hons) Fine Art (First Class Honours) (2014–2017)

Employment:

Graduate Teaching Assistant University of Manchester (2023–Present)
- HIST10172: Histories of the Islamic World
- HIST31861: Seaborne State? Venice and the East, 1150–1550
Extracurricular History TutorOakhill School (2022–2024)
Manchester Access Programme Tutor University of Manchester (2021)
Extracurricular History TutorRibblesdale High School (2019–2020)
Guest Lecturer University of Central Lancashire (2018)

Research Interests:

Early Modern Mediterranean History
Military Orders
Maritime Conflict
Crusading and Holy WarRenaissance Italy
Euro-Ottoman Relations
Diplomacy and International Relations
Commerce and Trade Networks
Cross-Cultural Exchange
Cultural History
Military History
Naval History
Economic History

Skills & Expertise:

Archival Research
Historical Analysis
Historical Source Criticism
Palaeography
Manuscript Transcription
Translation of Early Modern Sources
Qualitative Research
Digital Archival Research
Interdisciplinary Research
Teaching & Communication
University Teaching
Seminar Leadership
Public Speaking

Conference Presentations:

Research Dissemination
Student Mentoring
Public Engagement
Professional Skills
Project Management
Critical Analysis
Problem Solving
Independent Research
Collaborative Working
Adaptability
Time Management
Organisation

Conferences:

CEMS King's College London Colloquium: Early Modern War Narratives (2025)
Institutions in Motion: Intermediaries, Agency, and Adaptation in Global Commerce and Empire, 1450–1850 (2025)
North West Medieval Studies Seminar (2024)
Frontiers, Borders & Borderlands in the Early Global World, UCLA (2023)
Centre for Medieval Studies Postgraduate Conference, University of Bristol (2023)
COST Action PIMo Training School, Bologna (2022)
Crossing Borders, Contesting Boundaries Podcast Series, Durham University (2022)

Awards:

Community Engagement and Leadership Award, University of Manchester (2023)
National Archives & British Association for Local History Competition – Grand Prize (2023)
Turing Scheme Scholarship (2022)
Transkribus Scholarship Programme (2020)

Public Engagement:

Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Manchester
Community history projects
Educational outreach
Public lectures and conference presentations
Podcast appearances
Historical consultancy
Patient and Public Involvement & Engagement (PPIE)
Medical and healthcare advocacy

Languages:

English
French
Italian
Latin
Russian
Spanish

Academic Referees

Dr Georg Christ

Senior Lecturer in Early Modern History

School of Arts, Languages and Cultures

The University of Manchester

Professor Stefan Hanß

Professor of Early Modern History

School of Arts, Languages and Cultures

The University of Manchester

Speaking

ENGAGEMENTS & WEB LINKS

Discover videos of Georgina's presentations and discussions at various conferences and events, where she addresses important social issues and shares her insights on military history.