Amy Barnes
Senior Research Fellow
Profile
Biography
As an experienced, collaborative leader and researcher in public health, my work directly contributes to fostering a more equitable and healthier society. This includes by building an understanding o how we can build a fairer and more inclusive economy, in which everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
I currently serve as Deputy Director of the Born in Bradford Centre for Social Change at the University of York, where I also lead our collaborative Evidence into Policy and Practice Hub with the Bradford Health Determinants Research Collaboration. This role directly embodies our team's embedded research approach, working within policy settings to mobilise knowledge and ensure robust, timely, and accessible evidence.
I have a strong track record of partnership with local government and international research teams. I specialise in bridging the gap between research, communities, and policy to support evidence-informed decision-making towards equity and healthy livelihoods.
My work specifically includes identifying and facilitating policies and approaches that focus on prevention, and design out the systemic disadvantage and discrimination different population groups experience, for example, in areas like modern slavery, supported housing and services for unpaid adult carers.
I also lead and support participatory, policy-engaged research on community development, just transition to net zero, inclusive regeneration, inequalities in flexible work, and the public health potential of cooperatives, including credit unions.
My approach champions co-production and mutual learning, actively helping policymakers engage residents meaningfully in shaping policies and translating complex research into actionable insights. I bring expertise in participatory research and evaluation, stakeholder engagement, knowledge mobilisation, and systems thinking. This approach helps ensure that public health research is not only rigorous but also relevant and responsive to the needs of communities and decision-makers.
Through cross-sector collaboration and a deep understanding of policy processes, I am committed to building capacity for impactful research and advancing public health policies that are evidence-informed, including grounded in the lived experiences of different communities.
Qualifications
- BSc (Hons)
- MA (Econ)
- PhD
- FHEA
Research
Overview
Amy has interdisciplinary public health experience, with particular expertise in the following areas:
- Inclusion, participation and partnership in public health policy and health
systems - Collective action to address wider determinants of health, including commercial
determinants, power and control, food, housing and creating healthy livelihoods and a healthier economy - Participatory research and evaluation
- Policy-engaged research
- Complex systems evaluation (social-political processes)
Projects
- Made in Common - collective action to create a healthier economy (cooperatives and public health)
- Healthy Urban Places
- UoY/Bradford Health Determinants Research Collaboration Policy Hub - examples of projects include: inclusive regeneration, climate action, supported exempt accommodation, prevention framework for addressing alcohol and drugs harms