Robin Ireland

Robin Ireland is an Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow. His career spans over three decades in public health, including roles at Princes Park Health Centre and Mersey Regional Health Authority. He founded the Health Equalities Group (HEG) charity in 2002, leading initiatives like Healthy Stadia and Food Active. Ireland holds a PhD from the University of Glasgow (2021), focusing on Commercial Determinants of Health in Sport.

Education:

• BA (Hons) Development Studies, University of East Anglia
• MPH, University of Liverpool
• PhD, University of Glasgow

Research Interests: Ireland’s work examines commercial influences on public health, particularly in sport. Key areas include unhealthy commodity marketing (alcohol, tobacco, gambling), sport sponsorship ethics, and systemic approaches to health equity. His qualitative research critiques corporate power in global sports governance.

Key Contributions:

• Co-authored influential studies on Big Food/Premier League ties
• Advised Obesity Action Scotland and University of Dundee
• Published widely in Sport in Society, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, and BMJ

Awards:

• Member of UK Faculty of Public Health (elected through Distinction, 2015)

Grants/Advocacy:

• Co-led UK Nutrition Research Partnership initiatives
• Advocacy campaigns targeting unhealthy sport sponsorships

Labs/Teams: Active in HEG’s research arm, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams on global health policy interventions.