About
Joanna has been in a research role at the Heseltine Institute since 2022. She is interested in how individuals and communities interact with the built and natural environment in the context of cities and city regions. Current areas of focus are the wellbeing benefits of urban blue space, the role of the campus environment within the civic university, and care of the public realm.
She also works on projects related to public service innovation and is interested in co-production of public services, participatory evaluation methods, and understanding the wider determinants of health.
Joanna has a professional background in practice and administration in architecture, planning, housing and regeneration. Her experience spans public, private and community sectors and follows a degree in architecture and a master’s in urban regeneration.
She joined the Heseltine Institute from the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Liverpool, where she was project manager for an EU-funded research project in maritime spatial planning. Previously, she has been responsible for the management and monitoring of place-based funding programmes in Liverpool City Region and elsewhere, including New Deal for Communities, Single Regeneration Budget, European Regional Development Fund and Area Based Grant. A policy and programmes officer at Liverpool City Council for over ten years, she worked on the Capital of Culture and Year of the Environment programmes, waterfront and city centre public realm improvements, community environmental projects and heritage strategy development.