Rate My Professor Fiona Bull

Professor Fiona Bull is a Professor of Public Health in the School of Human Sciences at the University of Western Australia, where she previously served as Director of the Centre for Built Environment and Health (CBEH). She earned her Bachelor of Education from the University of Exeter, Master of Science from Loughborough University, and PhD from the University of Western Australia. With more than two decades of experience in public health, Professor Bull's research specializations include the prevention of chronic diseases through physical activity promotion, the influence of the built environment on health behaviors, active commuting, public open spaces, and green spaces' role in mental health and physical activity. Her academic interests extend to global surveillance of physical activity levels, policy development, and interventions to reduce sedentary behavior across the life course. Earlier in her career, she was Co-Director of the British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health Research at Loughborough University.

Professor Bull has made substantial contributions to the field through key publications, including 'World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour' (2020), 'Progress in physical activity over the Olympic quadrennium' (The Lancet, 2016), 'Global physical activity levels: surveillance progress, pitfalls, and prospects' (The Lancet, 2012), 'Development of a Public Open Space Desktop Auditing Tool (POSDAT): A remote sensing approach' (2013), and 'Public green spaces and positive mental health – investigating the relationship between access to green spaces, physical activity and mental wellbeing' (2017). Her work has shaped global policies, notably through leadership in international surveillance and guideline development. Recognized as a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher in Cross-Field and Health Sciences categories for 2023, 2024, and 2025, she has also received an MBE for services to public health. As President of the International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH), she has influenced advocacy and research agendas worldwide. Currently, she contributes to the World Health Organization's noncommunicable disease prevention efforts in Geneva while affiliated with UWA.