After completing my undergraduate degree and MRes in Criminology, I stepped away from academia and spent over the following decade working in substance use and mental health services with individuals involved in the criminal justice system. During this time, I worked across the UK and New Zealand, developing and delivering programmes within both men’s and women’s prisons, gang-focused initiatives, the Drug Court, residential rehabilitation, and respite services. These roles provided me with direct insight into the complex needs of people navigating substance use, trauma, mental health difficulties, and criminal justice involvement, and strengthened my commitment to practice and evidence informed work.

Through this frontline experience, my interest deepened in understanding the aetiology of substance misuse, the effectiveness of treatment interventions, and the broader implications of drug policy. This was a motivator to my transition into research.

I have previously contributed to research projects, South Asia Self-Harm Initiative (SASHI) and Women’s Social Care in Prison: Identifying Needs and an Appropriate Service Response (WOSCIP) at the University of Manchester, and I took a leading role in Substance Misuse Services Evaluation in HMP Berwyn at Bangor University.