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Chris Harkins

Public Health Programme Manager

Chris’ role contributes to several of the Centre’s areas of work. He has significant experience in evaluating the impacts of community or area-based interventions. Chris has led the innovative GCPH “life-course” evaluation of the arts-based programme Sistema Scotland, for over ten years.

Chris is particularly interested in how the economy shapes public health and has published work relating to the population health impacts of in-work poverty, payday loans and unsecure debt. In 2023 he published work examining the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on the lives, health and wellbeing of disabled people in Glasgow City.

During the pandemic he developed a range of evidence briefings design to inform Glasgow City Council’s Social Recovery Taskforce. These real-time briefings examined the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on black and minority ethnic people; disabled people; women; and children and young people. Chris also published work early in the pandemic concerning equitable community recovery and resilience. Beyond the pandemic, Chris maintains a clear equality focus, he is currently examining the unmet public health needs of the LGBT+ community.

Chris has also been responsible for a range of research and evaluation concerning approaches to community empowerment, participation and engagement in local democratic processes, particularly Participatory Budgeting. He has extensive experience in collaboration and partnership working across public and third sectors and academia.

Chris has degree in Medical Science and seven years specialism in cardiovascular science and disease epidemiology. He also has degrees in Social Sciences, and Business and Technology. Chris has previous experience working for Glasgow City Council, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the University of Glasgow. Chris lectures at Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of Glasgow, where he is also an Honorary Researcher.

Chris’ role contributes to several of the Centre’s areas of work. He has significant experience in evaluating the impacts of community or area-based interventions. Chris has led the innovative GCPH “life-course” evaluation of the arts-based programme Sistema Scotland, for over ten years.

Chris is particularly interested in how the economy shapes public health and has published work relating to the population health impacts of in-work poverty, payday loans and unsecure debt. In 2023 he published work examining the impacts of the cost-of-living crisis on the lives, health and wellbeing of disabled people in Glasgow City.

During the pandemic he developed a range of evidence briefings design to inform Glasgow City Council’s Social Recovery Taskforce. These real-time briefings examined the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on black and minority ethnic people; disabled people; women; and children and young people. Chris also published work early in the pandemic concerning equitable community recovery and resilience. Beyond the pandemic, Chris maintains a clear equality focus, he is currently examining the unmet public health needs of the LGBT+ community.

Chris has also been responsible for a range of research and evaluation concerning approaches to community empowerment, participation and engagement in local democratic processes, particularly Participatory Budgeting. He has extensive experience in collaboration and partnership working across public and third sectors and academia.

Chris has degree in Medical Science and seven years specialism in cardiovascular science and disease epidemiology. He also has degrees in Social Sciences, and Business and Technology. Chris has previous experience working for Glasgow City Council, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the University of Glasgow. Chris lectures at Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of Glasgow, where he is also an Honorary Researcher.

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GCPH Team