Zoë Fortune

Zoë Fortune is an Assistant Professor in Psychology at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, with additional roles as a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) and qualified psychotherapist. She holds a PhD in Health Services Research from King's College London and serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong (2018–2024). Her research focuses on workplace mental health and wellbeing, graduate transitions to employment, and female empowerment in the MENA region.

Her academic contributions include leading the Centre for Applied Behavioural Sciences at Heriot-Watt and co-founding the City Mental Health Alliance (CMHA HK). She collaborates with multinational organizations and governments across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East on projects involving healthcare communication, human rights, and organizational development. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in mental health and gender equality.

Recent publications highlight trends in workplace mental health, student engagement, and post-COVID career development, with a focus on interdisciplinary applications of sociolinguistics and applied psychology.

Scientific awards include:

• BBC News Professional Services Award (2013)
• Chartered Psychologist (2023)
• Heriot-Watt Collaboration Award (2024)
• Inclusion Champion Badge (2025)

She supervises PhD students and leads the Organizational Research and Wellbeing Lab at Heriot-Watt, fostering partnerships through initiatives like the Science to Practice seminars and the Research and Impact Initiative for Communication in Healthcare (RIICH).