Mrs Tristi Brownett

I am a Senior Lecturer in Public Health, Registered Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, and researcher whose work explores one of the most important and often overlooked influences on health: human connection.

Before joining Canterbury Christ Church University, I worked in occupational health and spent many years supporting individuals and organisations to improve health and wellbeing. A particular focus of my practice was leadership for culture change, exploring how organisational environments, relationships and leadership influence health, wellbeing and inclusion. This professional experience continues to shape my teaching, helping students connect public health theory with real-world practice.

My work focuses on how loneliness, belonging, social capital and community relationships influence health and wellbeing, and what this means for creating healthier, more connected societies. Through research, teaching and community engagement, I work with students, practitioners and community partners to challenge health inequalities and develop practical solutions to contemporary public health challenges.

Across all aspects of my work, I am committed to inclusive and participatory approaches that enable people and communities to contribute meaningfully to research and practice.

I teach and supervise across a range of public health topics, including public health research, health protection, health promotion, sustainability, environment and health, health inequalities, and the wider determinants of health.

I am particularly passionate about helping students understand how social, environmental and economic factors influence health outcomes and how public health professionals can create meaningful and lasting change in their communities.

Drawing on my background in occupational health and public health practice, I encourage students to connect academic theory with real-world public health challenges.

My research examines how loneliness, belonging, social capital and community relationships shape health and wellbeing, and what this means for creating healthier, more connected societies.

I am Principal Investigator of the Cancer-related Loneliness Interventions and Outcomes (CLIO) study, which explores the experiences of loneliness among people affected by cancer and investigates ways to improve support, wellbeing and quality of life.

I have presented research on loneliness, social connection and public health at national and international conferences, including the European Public Health Conference. Recent work has explored loneliness among people affected by cancer and the implications of social connection for health and wellbeing.

I am committed to promoting meaningful public involvement and participation in health research. My work focuses on strengthening relationships between researchers, practitioners, community organisations and people with lived experience to ensure that research is relevant, inclusive and responsive to the needs of communities.

I currently chair the LuCa Project Advisory Group, a collaborative initiative exploring barriers and enablers to help-seeking behaviours for lung cancer symptoms in Kent. Led by Professor David Stephensen, the project brings together people with lived experience of lung cancer, healthcare providers, public health professionals and voluntary sector organisations, with a view to co-designing approaches that encourage earlier help-seeking and improve outcomes.

Alongside this role, I am interested in developing collaborations and regional partners to explore ways of strengthening public involvement in research across Kent and Medway. This includes contributing to conversations about training and learning opportunities that support effective partnerships between researchers and members of the public.

I have a particular interest in inclusive and participatory approaches to research, exploring how researchers can create opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds to contribute meaningfully to research design, delivery and dissemination. Through these activities, I aim to support more equitable, collaborative and community-centred research cultures.