Joanna Yarker
Joanna Yarker is a Director of Affinity Health at Work and has previously held posts at Goldsmiths, University of London and the University of Nottingham. Her research is focused on the management of health and well-being at work, specifically focusing on chronic conditions and cancer; and the role of managers and leaders in supporting health at work interventions. In recent years she has led research in stress management interventions, work design and work-related ill health, and cancer and chronic ill-health at work.
In addition to her stress management research work for the HSE, CIPD and IIP, Joanna works with Dr Fehmidah Munir at Loughborough University, Joanna has worked on a range of projects focused on better understanding the employment experience of chronically ill employees. Together, they have been awarded a grant by the Mental Health Foundation to explore the effects of co-morbidity of depression as a barrier to effective return to work following illness; and, also with Emma Donaldson-Feilder, a grant awarded by the British Occupational Health Research Foundation to explore the role of the line manager in return to work. This project aims to develop an understanding of the specific behaviours required by managers to facilitate an effective return to work. She also works closely with Karina Nielsen at Arbejdsmiljoinstituttet (AMI, Institute of Occupational Health, Denmark) contributing to research that focuses on leadership and wellbeing in team working contexts. Here, Joanna has contributed to the design and evaluation of a leadership training programme.
Joanna also provides consultancy, guidance and training in management and leadership development to organisations. She has worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers, CancerBACUP, Shell, RBS and a number of NHS Trusts and County Councils among others. Combining academic and practitioner work ensures that her research reaches the intended users (occupational health and human resource professionals, line managers and individuals). Joanna is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist and she takes a keen interest in professional activities.
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