Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Dr Lisa Harkry
Senior Lecturer
Dr Lisa Harkry (CPsychol, FHEA) is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology, specialising in social inclusion, mental health and neurodiversity.
Lisa holds over ten years of practical experience in understanding the barriers to social inclusion faced by neurodiverse adults. Previously, she has been based within several non-profit and start-up organisations and has worked closely with autistic adults to address confidence, anxiety and sensory difficulties in the workplace. She has advised major corporate organisations, such as GlaxoSmithKline and Virgin Money, on how to recruit and manage autistic employees. She has also been interviewed for BBC Radio 4 about autism in the workplace and developed employee case studies for the BBC's neurodiversity project.
Current Teaching
Lisa teaches on the MSc Psychology (Conversion Award) and supervises MSc projects. She also supervises final-year undergraduate BSc (Hons) Psychology projects.
Lisa is currently supervising the following PhD projects:
2021 – 2025: ‘Neuroqueer’ identity and experience; a critical exploration – Hannah Murphy. Supervisors: Milnes, K. & Harkry, L.
Research Interests
Lisa is motivated by understanding the social impact of mental health and neurodiversity, particularly around social inclusion e.g., stigma, workplace diversity, neurodiverse identities and social trauma. She is keen to make research concise and accessible for professionals, policy makers and academics alike. Lisa co-leads Leeds Beckett University’s Culture, Diversity and Social Behaviour programme, promoting research into social inequalities, prejudice and political behaviours.
Examples of funded research awards include:
2021 – 2022: Evidence for Supported Employment and Mental Health of Autistic Adults (ESTEEM).
Harkry, L., Wang, S., Holch, T., & Clark, S.
The Wellcome Trust. £45,000.00
2021 – 2022: The Neurodiversity Network.
Harkry, L.
Leeds Beckett University: PsyCen Fund. £7,559.00
2018 – 2021: Improving Employability of Autistic Graduates in Europe (IMAGE).
Fabri, M., Harkry, L., & Wyatt-Millington, R.
Erasmus+. £360,000.00
2015: The 11th International Conference on Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD-11): Toulouse, France (Oral Presentation).
Dockery, L.
Experimental Psychology Society Grindley Grant. £500.00
2013 – 2017: The Effects of Employment on the Mental Health and Executive Functions of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Dockery, L.
Goldsmiths, University of London: Psychology Departmental Bursary. £60,804.00
