Helen Pineo
About
Helen Pineo is an urban planner and Research Associate Professor in the Department of Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington. Her research focuses on how development, regeneration and urban policy can support health and sustainability. She contributes to the evidence base about why and how to do healthy urbanism by using transdisciplinary approaches and amplifying the needs of under-represented communities and the planet.
Helen’s teaching and postgraduate supervision covers a broad range of healthy and sustainable urban environment topics. Her outreach activities include collaboration and advisory work with international organizations including the World Health Organization, the NHS England Healthy New Towns Programme, the Dubai Land Department, the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Royal Society and the Obesity Health Alliance, among others.
Prior to joining UW in 2023, Helen lived and worked in London for 16 years. Most recently, she was an Associate Professor at University College London. Previously, she worked as an urban planner for over a decade on new developments and planning policy in the UK and internationally. She has worked at the Building Research Establishment, Local Government Association and in national and local government in the areas of sustainable urbanization, health, climate change and low carbon energy. She is a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
Education
- PhD, Healthy & Sustainable Built Environments, University College London, 2019
- MA, Linguistics, University College London, 2006
- BA, Community & Environmental Planning and English Literature, University of Washington, 2003
Affiliations
Engagement
Equity, diversity and inclusion
My work aims to drive radical transformations of the built environment to redress the negative impacts caused by cities that have not been designed with and for all residents, specifically harming people based on differences such as gender, sexuality, age, race, ethnicity, income, religion, physical abilities and other characteristics. These injustices are particularly evident in my specialisms of health and sustainability where the groups with the least representation and power in decision-making suffer the greatest burdens from unhealthy environments and climate change impacts. To disrupt discriminatory and harmful practices in the built environment, my teaching and research aims to center underrepresented voices and avoid epistemic injustice.
Community and research partnerships
Current and past partners include: Arup, Design Council, Eastside for All, FutureWise, Impact on Urban Health, NHS England, Obesity Health Alliance, Perkins + Will, UK Construction Industry Council, World Health Organization.
Additional Information
London Community Land Trust, London, UK. Technical assistance as member of Community Land Trusts and Health Advisory Panel.
Essex County Council, Chelmsford, UK. Expert Advisor for Essex Livewell Accreditation Scheme, Health Impact Assessment Training.
Design Council, London, UK. Ambassador and Built Environment Expert related to healthy and sustainable construction.
http://helenpineo.com/