Global Observatory Expert Groups

The Global Observatory convenes Expert Groups comprised of experts invited from research, policy, and practice institutions and networks. The groups provide technical support and advice to the Global Observatory on the development and delivery of initiatives within specified thematic areas. They further offer strategic guidance on the role and working methods of the Global Observatory and function as a supportive mechanism that contributes to accountability and quality of the work of the Global Observatory.

1. Expert Group on Gender Based Violence and Violence against Women & Girls in PEPAS

About this thematic Focus: the Global Observatory identified gender-based violence and violence against women and girls as a thematic focus for the intitial programmes and initiatives. This Expert Group advises on work in this thematic as well as the broader gender equality and knowledge agenda of the Global Observatory.

2. Expert Group on Inclusive and Accessible Data on Gender Equality and PEPAS

About this thematic Focus: the Global Observatory is committed to principles of an ethos of inclusion and accessibility across all our data and research development work. This Expert Group advises on our approaches, systems, infrastructure, coordination, and methods for our work to be reflective of an inclusive ethos. The formation of this group is in progress. 

Expert Group Meetings: Expert Groups meet four times a year, one of the meetings is in person. Meetings provides an opportunity to guide the Global Observatory`s mission into tangible programme guidance and practical actions. The Expert Group on Gender Based Violence and Violence against Women & Girls in PEPAS held their first meeting on 7 October 2024 14:00 – 18:00 at University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. The meeting delegates reflected on the current state of the PEPAS research and data landscape, identified the trends, and offered suggestions for current and new products and collaborations of the Global Observatory. 

Expert Group Members 

Adele Pavlidis, PhD
Associate Professor & Interim Deputy Head of School (Research) at Griffith University
Aya Noguchi
Deputy Director at International Research Center for Sport and Gender Equality, Seijo University
Becky Clark, PhD
Financial Manager at WomenSport International
Elizabeth Pike, PhD
Professor of Sport, Health and Exercise at University of Hertfordshire
Emma Pullen, PhD
Senior Lecturer in Sport Management at Loughborough University
Joanna Maranhão
Network Coordinator at Sport & Right Alliance
John Nauright, PhD
Director and Professor at School of Kinesiology at Louisiana State University
Kari Fasting, PhD
Professor at Norges Idrettshøgskole
Marianne Meier, PhD
Lecturer, Researcher at University of Bern
Marielle Schweickart
Learn Director at Women Win
Melanie Lang, PhD
Professor in Social Science, Edge Hill University
Nana Aboagye-Adom, PhD
Head of the Centre for Sport Leadership at Stellenbosch University
Nonhlanhla Mkumbuzi, PhD
Lecturer at Northumbria University
Rosa Diketmüller, PhD
Assistant Professor at University of Vienna
Sarah Zipp, PhD
Associate Professor at Mount St. Mary’s University
Simone Fullagar, PhD
Chair, Sport and Gender Equity research hub (SAGE) at Griffith University

The Observatory Network of Expert Contributors 

The network of experts around the world that support the Global Observatory through contribution of resources, expertise, research, and knowledge. Contributors participate in actions such as mapping excercies, development of data collection tools, contribution of resources for the repository and participate in events such as webinars and conferences. Click here to join the Contributor Network.

Africa
America
  • Dr Ricardo Picoli, University of São Paulo, Brazil – Psychology, antropology, sociology and philosophy
  • Prof John Nauright, Louisiana State University, School of Kinesiology, United States – International sport management and women’s elite sport.
  • Prof Soraia Chung Saura, University of São Paulo, Brazil – Philosophy and Anthropology of Sport
  • Dr Thabata Telles, Brazilian Association of Sports Psychology (ABRAPESP), Brazil – Sports Psychology
  • Ms Vitoria Veiga, Universidade da Federal da Bahia, Brazil – Physical Education
  • Dr Danica Vidotto, University of Ottawa, Canada – Gender studies, education, sports, media
  • Ms Denise Kamyuka, University of Western Ontario, Canada – Sport management and leadership
  • Dr Fabiana Turelli, University of Manitoba, Canada – Sport and Physical Education focused on intersectionality, social justice, EDI, and gender in Martial Arts
  • Dr Guylaine Demers, Laval University, Canada – Gender and sport / sociology of sport
  • Dr Joanne Parsons, University of Manitoba, Canada – Sports medicine, rehabilitation, physiotherapy
  • Dr Lyndsay Hayhurst, York University, Canada – Sociocultural studies of sport, health and physical activity, international relations and development, decolonial feminism, social entrepreneurship studies, health equity studies, mobility justice, digital participatory action research
  • Dr Michele K. Donnelly, Brock University, Canada – Sociology, sociology of sport, women’s and gender studies, sport management, qualitative inquiry
  • Mr Christian Guzmán Mazuelos, Peru – Men’s mental health and masculinities
  • Dr Anna Farello, Olympic Refuge Foundation, United States – Forced displacement; sport for development; women and girls in sport
  • Ms Annika Yates, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, United States – Anthropology, Gender Studies
  • PhD Christy Halbert, Boxing Resource Center, United States – Boxing, Sociology, Sport Administration, Gender
  • Dr Martha Saavedra, University of California Berkeley, United States – Political Science, Development Studies, Gender Studies, African Studies
  • Dr Sarah Zipp, Mount St. Mary’s University, United States – Sport Management
  • PhD Yvette Figueroa, Sam Houston State University, United States – Strength and conditioning, female human performance, female athletes, sports nutrition
Asia
  • Dr Mona Nargolwala, The SportsCollaborative India, India – Sports Education Sports for Development Sports Advocacy
  • Mr Gaurav Gullaiya, Indian school of public policy, India – Policy research, policy design and management, sports policy
  • Juhi Jain, India – Gender equality and sport, Sport for Development
  • Ms Lisa Travella Murawsky, Naandi Foundation, India – Naandi Foundation’s vision is to eradicate poverty.The mission is to be a credible organisation that upholds the values of accountability and transparency in every activity it undertakes. To facilitate public-private partnerships in all development interventions so that state governments, the corporate sector and civil society can work together to change lives. To be a leading not-for-profit that creates replicable, sustainable, outcome driven innovations that help eradicate poverty across the country. To enhance the quality of life of the marginalised and less privileged in our society by addressing concerns of hunger, quality education, drinking water and livelihood opportunities.
  • Rekha Dey, Tanjun Associate LLP, India – Sport for Development (Sport being used as a powerful tool for implementation of grassroots programs in communities/ schools for realization of SDG goals)
  • Dr Yong-Yee Chong, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia, Gender equality
  • Dr Asif Ali, Government College University, Pakistan – Gender related issues in sports, exercise and physicals activity
  • Mr Atta Ul Haq, Youth Association for Development (YAD), Pakistan – Sports, physical education and folk games for the VAWG, gender equality, peace building, MHPSS, trauma mitigation and ending early and forced marriages
  • Ms Geraldine Bernardo, De la Salle University, Philippines – Sport management, women in sports, sport for development
  • Ph.D Sunyoung Jun, Grassroots Sport, Republic of Korea – Research, teaching, educating
  • Ms Joanne Kyra Loo, National Youth Sports Institute, Singapore – Coach Development
Europe
  • Mr Brent Rahim, BR Sport Consultancy, Aland Islands – Sport
  • Mrs Marinella Burgos, KU Leuven, Belgium – Sport public policy, sport organisation, public administration
  • Mr Knut Auf dem Berge, Movingsport GbR, Bulgaria – International sports development
  • Dr Pinelopi Stavrinou, University of Nicosia, Cyprus – Exercise physiology, combat sports, exercise and health
  • Jatta Muhonen, University of Helsinki, Finland – Emotional abuse in sports, sport psychology and sosiology
  • Stefanie Auf dem Berge, Movingsport GbR, Germany – Sport for development, Gender Equality
  • Mr Benny Cullen, Sport Ireland, Ireland – Sport and Physical Activity
  • Dr Dylan Power, University of Limerick, Ireland – Physical activity, sport, evaluation, physical activity policy, sustainable development, climate
  • Dr Sandra Heck, INAPS, Sport Ministry, Luxembourg – Social Impact of Sport including Gender Equality, previously also PE
  • Dr Daniela Heerdt, T.M.C. Asser Institute, Netherlands – Human rights law, sport and human rights, education on sport and human rights
  • Mrs Aneta Soldati, University of Bergen, Norway – Sociology
  • Dr Inês Neves, University of Porto, Portugal – Fundamental rights, business and human rights, Constitutional law, ESG, EU law, Competition law
  • Dr Ioana Borza, Independant researcher, Romania – Gender equality; violence against women; access and representation in decision-making
  • Mr Laur Mihai Amanolesei, Romania – International Relations, Sociology, Sports Philosophy, Governance,Ethics, Gender Studies, LGBTQI+ inclusion, Human Rights
  • Geng Ambogo, Women’s Sports, Russian Federation – Physical education and playing on the pitch
  • Mx Alison Carney, Spain – Gender, feminism, sport for development, intersectional inclusion
  • Prof Judith Solanas, EU Business School Barcelona, Spain – LGTBIQ+ studies, gender diversity, sports sociology, business, sports marketing
  • Kety Balibrea, Observatorio Valenciano del Deporte, Spain – Sociology and Sports
  • PhD Maria José Camacho-Miñano, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain – Sociology, physical education, digital technologies
  • Dr Carlos Gomez Gonzalez, University of Zurich, Switzerland – Experimental evidence on inequalities and policy analysis
  • Mr Chris Berra, Didwedo, Switzerland – Communication
  • Dr Jenny Jones, Switzerland – Sport Psychology
  • Dr Marianne Meier, University of Bern, Switzerland – Sport pedagogy, sport history, gender studies
  • Dr Natalie Barker-Ruchti, Örebro University and Swiss Olympic, Switzerland – Sociology of Sport
  • Dr Samuel Owiti, University of Lausanne, Switzerland – Sports psychology (talent identification and development)
  • Dr Ali Bowes, United Kingdom – Gender equality, sociology of sport, professional women’s sport
  • Andrew Mitchell, Representative Body, United Kingdom – Policy Analysis
  • Ms Anika Leslie-Walker, Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom – Sociology, Sport Science
  • Prof Elizabeth Pike, University of Hertfordshire/IWG, United Kingdom – Sociology of sport
  • Ms Emily Cameron Blake, Blake Evans & Co Ltd (consulting), United Kingdom – Sport policy, duty of care in sport, safe sport
  • Prof Emma Rich, University of Bath, United Kingdom – Sociology, Media Studies, Physical Cultural Studies, Feminism, Physical Education, Health Pedagogy
  • Dr Jacky Forsyth, Staffordshire University, United Kingdom – Ovarian hormones, bone, physiology
  • Dr Jamie Crowther, Born in Badford, United Kingdom – Sociology, criminology, gender, health, youth studies (positive youth development)
  • Dr Jane Dennehy, Gender Hub, United Kingdom – Media, governance, equality, diversity, inclusion
  • Dr Jennifer Hall, Born in Bradford, United KingdomSociology, psychology, public health
  • Prof Joan Duda, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom – Sport psychology, coach education
  • Dr Katie Liston, Ulster University, United Kingdom – Sociology, history, social policy, politics, media and communications
  • Dr Laura Wallace, United Kingdom – Sport coaching, sport development
  • Dr Melanie Lang, Edge Hill University, United Kingdom – Sociology, social-psychology
  • Prof Richard Giulianotti, Loughborough University, United Kingdom – Sociology, social/sport policy, anthropology, political science, sport management
  • Dr Robyn Smith, Brunel University London, United Kingdom – Forced migration, youth studies, leisure studies; sport sociology, wellbeing
  • Ms Sasha Martell, Safeguarding Specialist, Switzerland – Safeguarding, Project Management, Sport Organisations
  • Ms Sara Begg, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom – Sociology, Implementation Research
  • Dr Sheree Bekker, University of Bath, United Kingdom – Sports science; Sports Injury Prevention; Inclusion; Safeguarding
  • Mr Shuqi Shi, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom – Sports sociology and policy​
  • Dr Stephanie Coen, United Kingdom – Health geography, social scientific studies of sport and physical activity
  • Dr Suzanne Everley, University of Chichester, United Kingdom – Sociology, Education
  • Dr Swarali Patil, Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom – Women in Sport, Women in Sport Leadership, Gender Equity, Capacity for Gender Equity
  • Dr Tracy Donachie, United Kingdom – Sport Psychology 
Oceania
  • Dr Aaron Hermann, University of Adelaide, Australia – Sport, Sport Medicine, Sport Integrity, Inclusion, Equality, Gender Equality, Health Enhancing Physical Activity, Sport Policy, Sport Management
  • Dr Adele Pavlidis, Griffith University, Australia – Feminist theory, cultural geography, sport management, sport sociology, cultural studies
  • Ms Sarah Styles, Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, Australia – See below
  • Dr Claire Badenhorst, Massey University, New Zealand – Female Physiology, Exercise and Sport Science, Iron status and Regulation, Nutrition and Physiology

We invite research actors across the world to join our global network of researchers and experts to contribute to the development and content of our repository, to advise the Global Observatory, and amplify key research across geographies and disciplines. 

 

Advancing the empowerment, health and overall well-being of women and girls in all their diversity