Professor Michael Harloe is a social scientist who has worked for many years on issues of urban and regional development.  He was the Founder Editor (1977-97) of the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research. His most recent (co-authored) book is Working Capital.  Life and Labour in Contemporary London (Routledge, 2002) which is based on one of the major projects in the recently completed ESRC Cities Programme.  He was formerly Dean of Social Sciences and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research at the University of Essex and became Vice-Chancellor of Salford University in October 1997.  He serves on a number of national and local committees including the Business & Industry and Longer Term Strategy Sector Groups of Universities UK, the North West Regional Assembly, the Central Salford Partnership and the Manchester Knowledge Capital Board. He chairs the Chapel Street (Salford) Urban Regeneration Partnership, the Manchester/Salford Housing Market Renewal Partnership and the North West Universities Association.  He is a member of the Academy of the Learned Societies in the Social Sciences.