Dr. Fiona Haigh

Biography

Fiona Haigh is an Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales, recognized internationally as an expert in Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and health equity. Her research primarily focuses on integrating health equity considerations into decision-making processes across policy, planning, and governance systems. With a multidisciplinary background in law, social sciences, and public health, she actively develops practical approaches to embed health equity into institutional practices and explores various knowledge systems that inform rights-based decision-making. Fiona leads the Health Equity Research Development Unit, collaborating with government agencies and NGOs to design strategies that reduce health inequities. She has been pivotal in developing several HIA methodologies, including those funded by the European Commission and tailored to address local health needs in New South Wales. Her extensive experience includes delivering over 40 HIAs that have directly influenced policy decisions and provided training and technical assistance across more than 35 countries. Her recent work on COVID-19's equity-focused HIA has significantly impacted public health responses.

Research Interests