Rate My Professor Helen Fitt

Dr Helen Fitt is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Christchurch. She is a social scientist whose research explores the connections between mobilities and wellbeing, with a primary focus on transport mobilities. Her work examines the influence of social meanings on transport practices such as driving, motorcycling, walking, cycling, and bus use, as well as the wellbeing implications of emerging transport technologies including electric vehicles, e-scooters, and automated cars. Current projects investigate whether access to shared transport can enhance accessibility and wellbeing for residents of social housing and retirement provision. Fitt employs primarily qualitative methods and has interests in research ethics and communications, including the use of illustration in informed consent processes.

Fitt holds a BA(Hons) in Economics and French from the University of Leeds, an MRes in Development Studies from the University of East Anglia, and a PhD in Human Geography from the University of Canterbury. She has previously worked as a researcher at Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research and as a lecturer at the University of Canterbury and Lincoln University. She teaches PUBH 713 Society, Health and Health Promotion and PUBH 743 Health Promotion Programme Planning and Evaluation. Her professional activities include membership in the New Zealand Geographical Society and the University of Otago Transport Research Network, as well as roles such as Reference Group Member for the Transport Knowledge Hub: Technology and Innovation and Seminar Series Co-coordinator for the Aotearoa New Zealand Mobilities Network.