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Lori Leigh imageBA , MEd, MFA , PhD
Senior Research Fellow

Contact details

Email lori.leigh@otago.ac.nz

Research interests and activities

Dr Lori Leigh (they/she) is a Research Fellow with the Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Wellington. Lori brings interdisciplinary expertise across public health, LGBTQIA+ and Takatāpui wellbeing, and arts/creative‑based research methodologies. Trained across the humanities, social sciences, and health research, Lori has held senior academic roles including Senior Lecturer, Programme Director, and Director of Postgraduate Programmes, alongside a parallel career as an award‑winning writer, theatre‑maker, and educator.

Lori is currently a Research Fellow with ASPIRE Aotearoa. undertaking  qualitative research that explores lived experiences of accessing and using illicit tobacco, with a focus on social context, wellbeing, and structural inequity. Their work is grounded in social justice, cultural safety, and community‑centred approaches to tobacco control. Looking ahead, Lori is developing exploratory research on tobacco and nicotine use within Rainbow communities.

Prior to joining ASPIRE, Lori worked with the Housing and Health team (He Kāinga Oranga) at the University of Otago, where they co‑created a Māori wellbeing guide. Their wider research explores queer and Takatāpui wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand, bridging interdisciplinary scholarship and public‑facing research.

Lori works part-time as the Student Care Coordinator for the Faculty of Medicine offering holistic wellbeing support to students.

Publications

Hoek, J., & Leigh, L. (2026). Is smoking becoming culturally cool again? The Briefing, (23 October). [Commentary]. Journal - Research Other

Leigh, L., & Hoek, J. (2026). From illicit to accepted: A qualitative study of illicit tobacco use in Aotearoa New Zealand. Tobacco Control. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1136/tc-2026-060469 Journal - Research Article

Leigh, L., Telfar-Barnard, L., Howden-Chapman, P., & Pownall, A. (2026). 'For the dream of safety dies hard': Queer housing insecurity and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand. Kōtuitui, 21(3), e70055. doi: 10.1002/kot2.70055 Journal - Research Article

Leigh, L., & Hoek, J. (2026). Smoking, streaming, and socials: Exploring the “re-glamourisation” of smoking in Heated Rivalry and Love Story. Proceedings of the Aspire Aotearoa Symposium: Achieving a Nicotine-Free Aotearoa. (pp. 12). Retrieved from https://www.aspireaotearoa.org.nz/ Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Waa, A., Hoek, J., Gartner, C., Edwards, R., Leigh, L., Nip, J., & Teddy, L. (2026). Responding to illicit tobacco trade but not at the expense of sound tobacco control policy. The Briefing, (13 May). Retrieved from https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/responding-illicit-tobacco-trade-not-expense-sound-tobacco-control-policy Journal - Research Other

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