Personal statement

I’m a Professor of Public Health Policy at the University of Strathclyde, where I co-lead the Centre for Health Policy and the newly established Scottish Health Equity Research Unit (SHERU). My work focuses on understanding the impact of policies on public health and inequalities. I have a particular interest in understanding who shapes these policies and how, as well as in assessing the implementation and impact of policies, and using research to identify promising options for reducing health inequalities. With a background in geography and social policy, I’m a strong advocate of qualitative and mixed methods research, especially where this faciltiates dialogue across research, policy and publics.

Currently, alongside SHERU, I lead a five-year research programme on the Health-Justice Nexus in Scotland and contribute to a range of other interdisciplinary projects that are seeking to identify ways of reducing health inequalities. This includes the new ESRC Centre for Lifecourse Health Equity (Equalise), which is focusing on policies relating to work, learning, care and place; Strathclyde is leading on qualitative research insights and citizen engagement. My work with the SIPHER consortium and the UKRI Population Health Network Cluster reflects a long-standing interest in policy models as mechanisms for synthesising data and evidence to support policy decision-making.

Before joining Strathclyde, I worked at the universities of Edinburgh, Bath, and Durham, where I examined UK (1997-2010) strategies for tackling health inequalities, evaluated public health initiatives across the devolved UK, and analysed corporate (especially tobacco industry) influence on EU and national policies.  I’ve published widely on these topics and have a new co-authored book, Getting Better: The Policy & Politics of Reducing Health Inequalities, scheduled for publication in May 2025. I also sit on the Editorial Advisory Boards of Policy & Politics and Evidence & Policy and co-edit the Palgrave Studies in Science, Knowledge & Policy book series (and welcome discussions about potential contributions).

I have over 20 years teaching experience and a strong track record of mentoring graduate students pursuing careers in research and policy. I welcome applications for qualitative or mixed methods PhD projects that focus on reducing inequalities, analysing policies that impact on population health, or examining how influences these policies.