Dr Andrew Brinkley

Andrew is a Lecturer in Exercise Psychology within the School of Sport, Rehabilitation, and Exercise Sciences at the University of Essex, a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol), and the Programme Lead for BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Psychology. Before his appointment, Andrew worked as a Research Associate at Loughborough University within the NCSEM and as a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Loughborough College. Using a mixed-methods approach and across the life course, Andrew's research addresses how complex and systems-based physical activity interventions and programmes can be developed, implemented, and evaluated. Andrew has a particular interest in behavioural science and systems-thinking methods and evaluation. Examples of his work include workplace sports and exercise interventions designed to improve employee and organisational health, programmes developed to improve educational and social outcomes in young people educated within pupil referral units, nationwide Walking Netball programmes established to improve quality of life, loneliness, and mental health, place-based public health programmes in Essex, and whole-systems physical activity projects. Across a variety of settings, Andrew is interested in how real-world physical activity interventions and programmes underpinned by behaviour-change theory and systems-thinking can be effectively evaluated and translated into practice and policy. He has published his work in leading journals and presented his research at conferences and to the population, it seeks to serve through research consortiums and public engagement events.