Dr Avril Johnstone

Dr Avril Johnstone is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Exeter's Outdoor Play Research Centre, where she leads a work package examining longitudinal changes in children's independent mobility and outdoor play, and their implications for health, wellbeing and development.

Avril is a public health researcher focused on understanding how children interact with their environments and how access to outdoor play and independent mobility can help reduce inequalities in health and wellbeing. Her research spans a range of mixed-methods approaches, including intervention development and evaluation, systematic reviews, systems thinking, and qualitative research with children and families.

Prior to joining Exeter, Avril held research positions at the University of Glasgow, where she led and contributed to a range of interdisciplinary projects exploring outdoor play, school environments, nature-based childcare, and health inequalities. Her work has informed policy and practice, including contributions to the 2025 Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play.

Before her academic career, Avril worked for her local authority delivering and managing coaching and play programmes. This practical experience continues to inform her commitment to ensuring that research translates into meaningful real-world impact. She currently serves as a non-executive director of Actify CIC, supporting the translation of physical activity evidence into policy and practice.