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Contact Details

Email
snita.ahir-knight@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position
Lecturer (Programme Lead)
Department
Department of Psychological Medicine (Wellington)

Research

Snita is the Programme Lead for the lived experience education and research programme World of Difference | He Ao Whakatoihara kore within the Department of Psychological Medicine. She was previously a visiting research scholar in philosophy and a teaching fellow in ethics at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

She received a Degree in Social Work from Oxford Brookes University, a Master’s degree in Philosophy from the University of London, and a PhD in Philosophy from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

Her PhD thesis can be viewed via the Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Open Access website.

Snita is a trained child and adolescent therapist, and social worker. She has more than 15 years’ experience working in the not-for-profit, community, and mental health sectors in New Zealand and the UK.

Her main lens is philosophy; however, her not-for-profit, community, and mental health work background alongside her lived experience are important components of how she approaches her teaching and research.

Snita's research interests include mental disorder, health, children, youth and the parenting relationship.

You are welcome to contact her with collaborative opportunities, community partnership ideas, media enquiries and postgraduate supervision requests.

Publications

Ahir-Knight, S., & Godfrey, H. (2026). Lived experience is often dismissed: But we should recognise it as a form of expertise. The Conversation. doi: 10.64628/AA.jygdpqf9y Journal - Research Other

McKenzie, S. K., Ramsden, G., Every-Palmer, S., Ahir-Knight, S., & Oliffe, J. L. (2026). 'It puts you at odds with society': Masculinity and men's experiences of mental illness stigma. Qualitative Health Research. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/10497323261450776 Journal - Research Article

Ahir-Knight, S., & Godfrey, H. K. (Eds.). (2026). Higher Education Research & Development, 45(2), [Benefits and challenges of integrating lived experience in higher education]. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cher20/45/2 Other - Edited Journal

Ahir-Knight, S., & Godfrey, H. K. (2026). From coffee to collaboration: Reflections and insights on lived experience in higher education teaching. Higher Education Research & Development, 45(2), 333-338. doi: 10.1080/07294360.2026.2627168 Journal - Research Other

Ahir-Knight, S. (2026). Beyond risk: Rethinking harm for children of parents living with mental health and addiction challenges. Australasian Psychiatry. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/10398562261431181 Journal - Research Other

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