Research Community

Professor Gerri Matthews-Smith is a Professor within the Edinburgh Napier Business School and is the founder and Director of the Centre for Military Research, Education and Public Engagement, also at Edinburgh Napier university. Gerri is also the lead for the new Scottish Armed Forces Evidence and Research (SAFE&R) Hub and the University Research Lead for Military Research. Gerri’s research work rests within three key disciplines: human and organisational development, management, and wellbeing.

Professor John Brewer is a Professor of Post Conflict Studies and Senior Fellow at The Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s University Belfast. Professor Brewer has extensive research experience into Veteran transition and most recently worked on two FiMT-funded projects examining the impact of counter-insurgency warfare on the post-conflict reintegration of UK Armed Forces personnel. He recently researched the negative transitioning experiences of British Armed forces ex-personnel including those who have been in prison, homeless or received mental health support. Current research interests includes analysis of online extremism, including the susceptibility of some Veterans to become involved in extreme networks, and methods to prevent this.

Professor Jonathan Bisson served in the British Army and is now a practising Psychiatrist and Clinical Professor in Psychiatry at Cardiff University. He is the Director of Traumatic Stress Wales and Health for Health Professionals, and Deputy Director of the National Centre for Mental Health. Jonathan was co-chair of the UK’s first PTSD NICE Guideline Development Group and chair of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies’ Treatment Guidelines Committee. He developed and continues to lead Cardiff University’s Traumatic Stress Research Group. He also developed and was the first director of NHS Veterans Wales and Health and Care Research Wales. Jonathan is particularly passionate about developing and evaluating effective new treatments to treat PTSD and/or following traumatic events that can be implemented into clinical practice.

Professor Lisa Scullion is Professor of Social Policy and Co-Director of the Centre for Research on Inclusive Society at the University of Salford. Lisa has delivered over 60 research projects, with a commitment to the importance of qualitative inquiry for shaping policy and practice. Lisa’s work focuses specifically on understanding the impact of UK welfare reforms. This includes leading a ground-breaking five-year FiMT funded study called Sanctions, Support & Service Leavers. This is the first in depth UK research to explore Veterans’ experiences of the social security system and has been supporting the Department for Work and Pensions in developing their work related to the Armed Forces community. Lisa is a member of the Ministry of Defence Recovery Expert Advisory Board and the Office for Veterans Affairs Academic Advisory Board, and the FiMT Research Centre Advisory Board. 

Professor Matt Kiernan is the Director of The Northern Hub for Veterans and Military Families' Research at Northumbria University. Prior to this, he was the Head of Mental Health Nursing in the Royal Navy, the Specialist Nurse Advisor for Mental Health (Royal Navy) and the Defence Specialist Nurse Advisor (Mental Health). In his current role, he leads a range of research projects involving Veterans, Service personnel and their families, exploring health and social care, public health, psychology, social policy, human geography and nursing.

Professor Neil Greenberg is a clinical and academic Psychiatrist based at King’s College London, specialising in adult, occupational and forensic psychiatry. Neil served in the United Kingdom Armed Forces for more than 23 years deploying as a Psychiatrist and Researcher. At King’s College London, Neil is a senior member of the military mental health research team and a Principal Investigator within a nationally funded Health Protection Research Unit which investigates the psychological impacts of trauma on organisations. Neil also runs March on Stress and chairs the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) Special Interest Group in Occupational Psychiatry, as well as leading on the World Psychiatric Association’s Position Statement on Mental Health in the Workplace.