Research
Leona has worked as researcher on a number of successful interdisciplinary projects related to her interests as a researcher within the University of Liverpool and also global lead for research into populations vulnerable to 'Modern Slavery' at United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (New York). This includes being Research Director for international safeguarding consultation and guidance development for UK Collaborative on Development Research [UK Collaborative on Development Research] ( https://www.ukcdr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/170420-UKCDR-Guidance-for-Safeguarding-in-International-Development-Research.pdf)
Leona was awarded the UoL Alan Beeston Early Career Researcher Award in 2024.
As co-founder of the Barriers to Black Academia initiative to address the severe under-representation of Black academics, especially in studies of slavery, as a form of reparative justice Barriers to Black Academia, Leona has worked with Centre for Studying International Slavery to create an international Barriers to Black Academia symposium (2021) Symposium and a knowledge partnership with Church of England Racial Justice Unit to develop resources for their truth-telling work on the church and slavery (2023-25) knowledge partnership
Leona is currently Co-Investigator on AHRC Music Futures interdisciplinary project in the Liverpool City Region [Music Futures] (https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/institute-of-popular-music/projects/music-futures/), led by Professor Richard Koeck.
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Anticolonial methodologies; harm in research; 'safeguarding'; 'modern slavery'; race/racialisation; children/young people; 'risk', 'risk prevention' and 'risk-work'