About

I am currently working as a Research Associate with Sheffield Hallam University Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) on a one-year project focused understanding the lifestyle support needs (including physical activity, nutrition, and psychological support) for people living with metastatic breast cancer. In this role, I utilize a range of skills that include research methods, stakeholder engagement, leadership, project management, relationship building and topical expertise in physical activity, nutrition, health, and wellbeing.

I am a Level 3 Personal Trainer, Exercise Referral Instructor and Group Exercise Instructor. I currently teach group exercise classes at University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, Nuffield Health and Cambridge Street Collective Food Hall.

I am also a Workplace Wellbeing Consultant at Sheffield Hallam University Staff Wellness Programme, where we use physiological testing and apply behaviour change science to improve employee wellbeing at SHU and externally.

Alongside this I am a visiting lecturer, fitness professional, freelance assessor (for personal training, gym instruction and exercise referral qualifications).

My qualifications include a PhD in Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing, an MPH in Behavioural, Social and Community Health and a BSc in Applied Health Sciences, Public Health, and Nutrition Science. I am a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) No. 22053 (Obtained October 2013), National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC).

I completed my PhD in 2022, with a focus on Health Behaviour and Physical Activity, entitled, Co-location of healthcare and leisure (fitness) facilities to promote physical activity: a realist synthesis. This PhD was funded by SHU VC scholarship, the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Science (NCSEM) Sheffield and ukactive. My Director of Studies was Professor Robert  J Copeland and was supervised by Dr Katie Shearn and Dr Helen Speake. 

I have experience in the promotion of healthy lifestyles in various sectors through fitness instruction, lecturing and assessment, public health, workplace wellness, nutrition counselling, behaviour change and physical activity. I am interested in developing a career which combines both teaching and research, while maintaining my interest in the fitness and physical activity sector. I have a particular interest in the impacts of physical activity and health, exercise referral, obesity prevention, behaviour change and fitness instruction.

I am passionate about applying behaviour science, sport psychology, sport science and love for music in her indoor cycling classes and fitness instruction. I enjoy making high quality health and fitness instruction and information accessible. I enjoy helping people to reframe their mindset about exercise, nutrition and what it means to live a healthy, balanced, and enjoyable life. 

I also run my own business, Resilience Fitness + Wellbeing, focused on fitness instruction, workplace wellbeing and health coaching. My aim is to help people build resilience through physical activity and develop and maintain healthy lifestyle behaviours.

Teaching

College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences

Level 7 Postgraduate Nutrition and Public Health; Behaviour change in nutrition and health; Motivational Interviewing workshops

Level 5 Physical Activity and Health  

Level 5 Behaviour change  

Level 4 Research Methods In Sport and Physical Activity  

Developing Professional Skills Gym Instructor Course Assessor/Tutor, Sheffield Hallam University  

Foundations of research in sport and physical activity

Research

• Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre
• Health Research Institute

Self-Management of Symptoms in people living with Metastatic Breast Cancer (plwMBC)

UKactive, NCSEM

Publications

Other activities

External SHU Wellness consultant