معرفی
Margaret Anne Defeyter is Professor of Developmental Psychology in the Department of Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing at Northumbria University. She is the founder and director of the Healthy Living Lab, a research unit dedicated to understanding and addressing food insecurity, social injustice, and child wellbeing in the UK.
Education:
- PhD in Psychology – Northumbria University (1999)
- PCAP – Northumbria University (2004)
- Fellow of the British Psychological Society (FBPsS) – 2003
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) – 2005
Research Interests:
Professor Defeyter's work spans over two decades and is centered on childhood food insecurity, holiday hunger programmes, school breakfast clubs, and policy impact. Her research explores the intersection of nutrition, education, and social justice, with a particular focus on how food access affects children’s cognitive, social, and educational outcomes. She integrates interdisciplinary methods, including participatory mapping, GIS analysis, and policy evaluation.
Awards & Recognition:
- Fellow of the British Psychological Society (2015)
- Food Heroes Award from Sustain
- Named one of the Top 100 Change Makers by The Big Issue (2020)
Current and Recent Projects: Professor Defeyter leads and co-investigates multiple funded projects, including the national HAF Plus initiative (co-designing holiday provision with young people), and evaluations of food programmes across the UK. She has received over £1 million in funding from sources such as Research England, Feeding Britain, and the Mayor’s Fund for London.
Advising & Leadership:
She advises the UK Department for Education on the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF), is a member of the British Psychological Society’s Expert Reference Group on poverty, and serves on the Gateshead Poverty Truth Commission and the North East Child Poverty Commission.
Postgraduate Supervision:
She currently supervises PhD student Rosanna King, whose research focuses on school-based food education programmes.
