I have a BSc in Psychology and Social Biology with an MSc in Ergonomics from UCL. My PhD concerned an investigation of the use of ergonomics in automotive concept design acquired from Loughborough University while I was a Daphne Jackson Research Fellow. Most of my research has been located within design departments, looking at applying user-centred design to wicked problems in the areas of health, education, sustainability, mobility and inclusivity.

I have been awarded grants in excess of £15 million since I came to Coventry University in 1999, mainly from RCUK and in collaboration with UK and European partners. These include:

• H2020 TInnGO (2019-2021): to develop a Pan European Transport innovation Gender Observatory and 10 hubs across Europe creating a step change in gender and mobility across transport through use of gender action plans and gender mainstreaming. (approx. 3 million euros): role PI
• WEMOBILE (2018-2019) project to understand the lived experiences of women in Malaysia and Pakistan and the effects of gender transport poverty and everyday harassment (approx. £45 K): role PI
• H2020 CIVITAS SUITS 2016-2020): capacity building to develop sustainable mobility projects in small to medium local authorities (approx. 4 million euros) : role PI
• Empathic design and elders: Frank Jackson Foundation (2016-2019) looking at ways to encourage transport design and engineering students to be empathic in consideration of older transport users. (approx. 30K). Role PI
• FP7 METPEX: (2013-2016) project to develop pan- European tool to measure the quality of multimodal, end to end traveller journey (approx. 3 million euros) P1: role PI
• Elder’s mobility needs University pump priming (2016) to deliver co-design workshops in UK and USA. PI: £10K
• Investigation of social transport, Consultancy: 2014
• Evaluation of early adopters experiences of the use of e-vehicle: EPSRC, n/d
• The use of digital technologies by connected communities: AHRC; PI: £32K
• A multistakeholder evaluation of a full scale, working electric bus: Consultancy: 2010
• Developing intelligent zero-emissions vehicles, Science city project with Birmingham, RDM and Microcab, 2009
• Developing a decision support system to help SMEs evaluate assistive technology, TSB/EPSRC, 2008-2011
• My care, Studying and developing patient-held health records, EPSRC award with City University, £250,000, 2007-2010 (PI)
• Voice Your View, Development of system to gather tacit knowledge about public spaces: EPSRC (2009-2012): £950K
• Training middle managers in ICT and soft management skills in the West Midlands, EU-ESF, £250,000, 2003-2006 (PI)
• Pupil participation in school design, AHRC award with Northampton University, £330,000, 2006-2008 (PI)
• Developing a polysensory environment to nurture the engagement of children with an autistic spectrum disorder and follow on award to run a multistakeholder conference and develop a portable multimedia learning experience, AHRC, £110,000, 2003-2006 (PI)
• Investigating the safety and security of women drivers and their passengers DETR (2001): PI £100K

Driving my research is the belief that applying systems-thinking and user-centred design principles drawn from ergonomics and design research can be applied to and solve many of the wicked problems we face today. In this, the key for greater inclusion and recognition of the needs and contributions of all sectors of society is paramount. This requires the development and application of inclusive methods to understand these needs, empathy fed by an in depth understanding of the lived experience and a willingness on the part of stakeholders (such as designers, municipalities and agencies) to use this information in the application and development of inclusive approaches, systems and products.

Most of my research has been located within design departments, looking at applying systemic design research to wicked problems in health, education, mobility, sustainability and gender.