PAfH [Physical Activity for Health] on the global stage

Supported by Health Research Institute (HRI)

Welcome to PAfH [Physical Activity for Health] on the global stage!

Come join us for an exciting event focused on promoting physical activity for health. This event will bring together experts from around the world to discuss the importance of staying active and healthy.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from leading professionals in the field and network with like-minded individuals. Let's work together to make a positive impact on our health and well-being!

PAfH Researchers

Saba Toosinezhad 

Saba is a dietitian with a BSc in Nutrition Sciences. She completed her MSc in Food and Health at the University of Padua, Italy, where her research focused on the effects of different eating habits and lifestyles on type 2 diabetes remission following bariatric surgery in patients with obesity. As part of her MSc research, she participated in an Erasmus exchange program at the University of Bergen, Norway, where she investigated the short-term metabolic impacts of low-calorie diets and bariatric surgery in patients with obesity. After completing her MSc, she continued her research at the University of Bergen, focusing on sex-specific differences in insulin resistance, diabetes, and obesity in human interventional cohorts and mouse model studies. Saba will present on her role in the INDEEP Marie Curie Doctoral Network (INtervention on the DEterminants of, and Expertise in, Physical activity behaviour) 

Padraic Rocliffe  

A postdoctoral researcher working with Prof. Catherine Woods on the I-PARC 2.0 project, focusing on the adaptation and implementation of evidence-based physical activity programmes to enhance their reach and effectiveness in real-world settings. Padraic's research lies at the intersection of physical activity, public health, and education, with a particular emphasis on implementation strategies and intervention sustainability. Padraic has extensive experience in developing and evaluating Whole School Approaches to Physical Activity, integrating participatory research methods, and supporting policy implementation to improve adolescent physical activity levels.

Dr Sven Messing 

A Marie Curie Research Fellow at the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre. He has an interdisciplinary research profile with a PhD in Political Science and 10 years of professional experience in the field of physical activity and public health. His research focuses on policies to promote health-enhancing physical activity across political sectors and at all political levels. He has been involved in the development of the Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI) and the German Recommendations for Physical Activity and Physical Activity Promotion. Furthermore, he has conducted research at the intersection of physical activity promotion and climate change, and on physical activity in the context of human rights. As part of his Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship, he will work with policymakers from EU Member States to develop a physical activity policy toolkit. 

Caera Grady  

An Irish Research Council scholar in the final year of her PhD student. Her research explores the Communication of Physical activity messages with adolescents in secondary schools. Throughout her PhD she has contributed to multi-disciplinary and international teams working towards adolescent physical activity promotion, such as the Active School Flag and the Erasmus+ Promoting Physical Activity in Secondary Schools for Health research projects. 

Sean Healy 

Dr Sean Healy is an Associate Professor of Physical Activity and Sport Participation, Policy and Practice at the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre. Dr Healy holds a PhD in Adapted Physical Activity from the University of Virginia and has 10 years of experience in academia, having worked in universities in the United States and Ireland. Dr. Healy’s research focuses on reducing the gap in physical activity levels between people with and without disabilities, with a particular focus on people with intellectual disabilities and autism. He often leverages new technologies in his efforts to enact sustainable, scalable changes in physical activity, always ensuring the voice of people with disabilities are central to the work. Dr. Healy is currently engaged in research projects with several key organisations including Special Olympics International, Paralympics Ireland and Active Disability Ireland. 

James Green 

James Green is a Chartered Health Psychologist, Professor in the School of Allied Health, and theme lead for Sustainable Active Mobility in the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (HRI). He is currently leading two sustainable mobility projects, one aiming to produce lasting modal shift from private car to ebikes, and the second looking at increasing social inclusion and equity in sustainable mobility 

Panel Discusssion

Catherine Woods

Prof. Woods is Director of UL’s Physical Activity for Health Research Centre (PAfH; www.ul.ie/ehs/pafh), and Chair of Healthy UL, a campus-wide initiative to promote health and wellbeing for university staff, students and wider community.   The PAfH Research Centre comprises 13 core members with multidisciplinary expertise including health promotion, psychology, physiology, physiotherapy, civil engineering and exercise science from numerous schools and faculties across UL.  In addition, its 10 research staff and >30 postgrads ensure a mix of senior, mid and junior career researchers, all who contribute significantly to ULs publication and funding achievements.   

Prof. Woods’ expertise is in physical activity (PA) policy and intervention development across the life course.  She has 130+ publications, 5673 citations, h-index of 41 and i10-index of 88, and competitively awarded research funding of €16,500,242 (€5,070,512 to UL) from (inter)national grant agencies. As Deputy Chair of the Policy Evaluation Network (www.jpi-pen.eu;), Prof Woods led a consortium of 28 research institutes across Europe to find systematic ways of evaluating policy impact on PA, sedentary behaviour and food.  The ERA4Health (EU) IMPAQT study on PA policy will continue this research in six European countries (www.ul.ie/research/impaqt).  Prof. Woods was appointed as World Health Organisation Technical Officer in 2022.  As joint-lead of the Irish Physical Activity Collaboration (www.i-parc.ie), with Colin O’Hehir from the Department of Health, Catherine is instrumental in bringing researchers, policymakers and practitioners together to use a multi-sectoral approach to address the inactivity pandemic across the island of Ireland. In recognition of her academic scholarship, she was awarded Honorary Professor at the University of Edinburgh and Visiting Professor in Ulster University

Sarah O’Brien As National Lead for the Healthy Eating and Active Living Programme, Sarah is responsible for ensuring that the implementation of key national policies, Get Ireland Active: National Physical Activity Plan and Healthy Weight for Ireland: Obesity Policy and Action is supported across the health services.  Sarah has a background in paediatric nursing, health promotion and health service management, with a track record of delivering on innovation and change initiatives.    Her current role involves collaborating with colleagues across the health services in areas such as primary care, acute services, disability services, mental health services as well as with external partners on how we can bring a health and wellbeing focus to all our work particularly in relation to promoting healthy diet and physical activity.  And leading the development of training, policy and standards, resources, programmes and communications to support colleagues integrate this into their everyday work.   Of particular relevance for this event is the work developing the Every Move Counts National Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour for Ireland.   

Benoit (Benny) Cullen 

Benny Cullen is Director of Research and Innovation at Sport Ireland where he leads a multi-disciplinary team which carries out strategic research, evaluation and innovation to inform Irish sports policy and national investment strategies. Benny and his team do large amounts of formative research and evaluation, which underpins the development of innovative solutions to the challenges sports policy seeks to address. 

Colin O'Hehir 

Colin O’Hehir is the policy lead in respect of climate change and physical activity at the Department of Health. Through Healthy Ireland, the Department works across sectors and agencies to tackle the barriers and promote opportunities for physical activity. He is the co-chair of Ireland’s National Physical Activity Implementation Group, which coordinates and drives a coherent approach to the promotion of physical activity across a range of policymakers and stakeholders. He also co-chairs I-PARC, the all-island physical activity research collaboration which aligns policymaking and research in the promotion of best practice across physical activity systems.  

Toby Goodwin 

Behavioural Scientist on the Active Travel team for Limerick City and County Council (LCCC). Working on a dynamic multidisciplinary team delivering the infrastructure and incentives that make it safer, easier, quicker and cheaper to use sustainable travel options such as walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport. A keen advocate supporting the rights of persons with disabilities via the role of Access Officer for LCCC. With a background in Systems Engineering and Human Factors from over 25 years in Transport for London and a MSc in Human Computer Interaction and Ergonomics from University College London.