Amy Barnes
Senior Research Fellow

As an experienced, collaborative leader and researcher in public health, my work focuses on ways to create a healthier economy and society, 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 engage communities, 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 policy approaches that focus on prevention and addressing income inequality, 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 health and development, a just transition to net zero, inequalities in access to flexible work, and how cooperatives, including credit unions, can support health. I understand health as being able to realise aspirations, satisfy needs and cope with what is happening in our lives: it is about our capabilities for everyday living.