As a qualitative researcher one of my research interests is Paralympic sport. Having completed my PhD with Britain's Wheelchair Basketball Teams, linked to the London 2012 Games, examining player psycho-social health and well-being, my current research builds upon this. One current piece of research explores leadership practices within the British Judo and Wheelchair Basketball programmes, connected to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Tokyo 2021 Paralympic Games.

I also have an interest in the equality and inclusion of marginalised groups within society. In this regard I am currently conducting research as an ERAS Fellow exploring the lived experience of female, disabled staff at the University. Social justice and the privileging of groups within society, explored in relation to race, ethnicity, gender and disability, is a further area of interest.

Paralympic athletes and health/well-being/performance

Paralympic coaching/leadership

Disability and sport

Equality, diversity and inclusion in relation to marginalised groups

Social justice & privilege of groups in society

PhD: Wheeling to London 2012: Examining the Psycho-social health and well-being of Great Britain’s Wheelchair Basketball teams over time – Loughborough University - July 2015

Smith, Bundon & Best (2016) Disability sport and activist identities: A qualitative study of narratives of activism among elite athletes’ with impairment, Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 26, p.139

Ward, Richards & Best (2021) Negotiating whiteness through brownness: using intersectionality and transactional theory to capture racialised experiences of campus life, Studies in Higher Education

Employment at FE colleges including North Warwickshire & Hinckley College, City College Coventry & University College Birmingham.

Conference Presentations

Online Conference: The International Society of Sport Psychology World Congress: Coaching in adversity: How Paralympic athletes, coaches and support staff perceive inspiration and effectiveness during Covid-19. (2021)

Poster presentation: The UK High Performance Conference for Paralympic Sport Science & Sport Medicine, ‘The Road to Rio: Learning from London.’ (2013)

Oral presentation: ‘Health versus performance: Strapping in to the ultimate rollercoaster - The London 2012 Paralympics for the GB Wheelchair Basketball teams.’4th International Conference on Qualitative Research in Sport & Exercise (2014)