We are delighted to announce that Brett Smith from Durham University’s Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences is joining the Platform to co-lead the Narrative Practices Lab with Veronica Heney.
“For over 20 years I’ve been interested in narrative. A core focus has been on what narratives people draw on to make sense of disability, how narratives act on, for, and with people, and how narratives can be used in health and social care – whilst appreciating the dangerous layers of narratives. Much of this work is co-produced, with organisations like Disability Rights UK, and a critical approach taken.“
Brett’s field-defining contributions to narrative include working with disabled people to critically explore how stories can be used to communicate health or social care information and the work they can do as actors to create change – for better or worse. He has also written multiple papers/chapters advancing narrative analysis. Brett has held numerous leadership roles, including Director of Reseach (4 years at University of Birmingham and 5 years Durham), Sport and Exercise Sciences REF2021 Lead, President of the International Society of Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise (2020-2024), and REF2029 UoA24 sub-panel member. He fondly remembers the first story he read to his son – ‘The Paperbag Princess.’
We are looking forward to working with Brett, and to seeing where he and Veronica take the Lab next.
Laura Mazzoli Smith, who co-led the Lab from September 2023 to August 2025, has taken voluntary severance to pursue her training in psychotherapy. She will remain an active member of the Platform and the Narrative Practices Lab in her capacity as IMH Honorary Fellow.
Best of luck, Laura, on this exciting next step!
