UK national launch event UNESCO Chair on Global Health & Education

Yongfeng Liu

UNESCO technical focal point for the Chair

Section of Health and Education, UNESCO

Didier Jourdan

Co-chair holder UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education

Université Clermont Auvergne, France

Nicola Gray

Co-chair holder UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education

Reader in Medicines and Health, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield

Suzanne Hargreaves

Consultant UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education.

In 1983 I started my career as a physical education teacher in a secondary school and during this time I completed a MEd and then a MSc in Applied Social Research. I moved into Higher Education as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Stirling followed by a Lecturing post at the University of Glasgow. I continued my involvement in Higher Education through various roles including Teacher Fellow at the University of Stirling, Associate Tutor at the University of Edinburgh and External Examiner at the University of Glasgow.

My final career move was to Education Scotland, a Scottish Government executive agency charged with supporting quality and improvement in Scottish education. I had the privilege of being the Senior Education Officer for Health and wellbeing (HWB) and Outdoor Learning in Education Scotland from 2013-2021. I worked with a team of Development Officers and Inspectors to support staff in educational establishments across Scotland on all aspects of HWB and Outdoor Learning. I held the post of national coordinator for Scotland on the Schools for Health in Europe (SHE) network.

Barry Percy-Smith

Barry Percy-Smith is Professor of Childhood, Youth and Participatory Practice and Director of the Just Futures Research Centre at University of Huddersfield, UK. He has extensive experience as a participatory action researcher and an international reputation for his work in child and youth participation. His main interests are in children and young people as active agents of change, participatory social learning and action inquiry approaches to learning and change in organisations and communities. He has published widely on these issues including co-editor of the Handbook of Children and Young People’s Participation: Conversations for Transformative change.

Steve Morton

Steve is currently Health & Wellbeing Programme Manager for North West England Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, utilising over 25 years public health experience.  Much of his experience in youth engagement originates from over 30 years as a leader and manager across the world Scout movement.  Steve is a member of the Association for Young People’s Health Advisory Council. During the COVID pandemic he drew all these elements together to initiate and drive young people focussed guidance developed by young people, this engagement recognised by professionals and politicians as being beneficial and effective, and a model to be replicated. 

Somto Chike-Obuekwe

PhD Student, University of Huddersfield, UK

Goof Buijs

Manager UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education

Nicola Gray

Co-chair holder UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education

Reader in Medicines and Health, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield