Esther is a Research Associate at CHI and Reader in the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Social Care at Canterbury Christ Church University. She currently holds the post of Assistant Director of Research with the Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health. Esther has been involved in systematic review production both as an author and an editor within the Cochrane and Campbell Collaborations for more than 20 years.  

Esther’s professional background is in Social Work and she has a lifelong commitment to social justice. Since leaving direct practice in 1999, she has held posts at the University of Oxford, UK Cochrane Centre and the Social Care Institute for Excellence. Esther’s interests are mainly in social exclusion, social justice and inequalities, child and family welfare, as well as systematic review methodology.  Esther holds editorial roles in the Campbell Collaboration Social Welfare Group and the Cochrane Collaboration Developmental Psychosocial and Learning Problems Group. She has also been involved in advisory groups for research projects, including with the NSPCC, and has held Faculty research leadership roles at Canterbury Christ Church University.

With CHI, Esther acts as consultant on an NIHR funded Campbell Collaboration systematic review. This project is an Evidence synthesis of two systematic reviews (1) effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for reducing problematic substance use, improving mental health, and improving housing stability for adults experiencing homelessness; and (2) barriers and facilitators accessing psychosocial interventions.