Jo Vearey

Jo Vearey coordinates research in the field of migration & health and is an Associate Professor and Director of the ACMS where she teaches, and supervises graduate students. She holds a PhD in Public Health (WITS University, 2010); is a South African National Research Foundation (NRF) B-rated researcher; and, alumni of the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS). Jo is an Affiliated Researcher at the Global Health & Migration Unit, Dept of Women’s & Children’s Health, Uppsala University; an Honorary Researcher, Centre of African Studies, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Edinburgh; and former Vice-Chair and an active expert member of the global Migration, Health and Development Initiative Network (MHADRI). Jo is Co-Director – with Prof Anuj Kapilashrami at Essex University – of the NIHR Global Research Group on Disrupting the cycle of gendered violence & poor mental health among migrants in precarious situations (GEMMS) and Co-Lead – with Dr Soorej Jose Puthoopparambil at Uppsala University – of the ARUA-Guild CoRE-M&H.

Jo’s internationally recognised and globally-impactful research in the field of migration and health is informed by her commitment to social and epistemic justice. Fundamental to her research practice is participation in policy processes at international and local levels, including exploration of approaches to address epistemic injustice in the development of appropriate policy responses. This includes participation in a range of WHO processes, including leading the AFRO regional evidence review for the WHO’s first global migration and health report (2022), participation in the development of WHO’s global research agenda on migration and health (2023), and providing technical advice to the WHO’s Refugee and Migrant Health Competency Standards for Healthcare Workers (2021).