Julie’s research area is urban policy and regeneration, including a track record of research around the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and event-based urban renewal. She is primarily motivated by the potential of academic research to inform policy and alleviate critical social issues and is primarily engaged in applied social research. The question of ‘who benefits?’ lies at the core of Julie’s research, which explores the tensions between environmental, social and economic objectives, interrogating the role of policy in supporting social inclusion and urban sustainability. Her central research themes include the role of the built environment in supporting active travel and social interaction, the relationships between policy, sustainability and wellbeing, and, most recently, how culture, heritage and the arts can enrich and sustain community. Addressing social and policy challenges through engagement with community and policy stakeholders is fundamental to Julie’s research field and she is deeply committed to collaboration between academic research, policy and the wider community.