Kirsty Gardiner

Kirsty is a Social Psychologist with a passion for using research to power social change. She holds a doctorate in Psychology from Queen Mary University of London, and is a registered chartered Psychologist with the BPS.

Kirsty holds a masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of East London. On completing her Ph.D. she taught on the MAPPCP programme for several years.

Currently, she is based in the UK as the Research Director at Ardent – a DEI consultancy, where she takes a data-driven approach to assessing clients’ DEI needs.

Work Experience

• 2022 – Present: Research Director, Ardent
• Jan 2023 – Mar 2023: Research Product Lead, Tech Nation
• Feb 2022 – Aug 2022: Social Researcher, Global Mapping of Vaccination Policies, Queen Mary University of London
• Jan 2022 – Sept 2022: Module Leader and Course Designer, PG Cert Psychology of Kindness and Wellbeing at Work, University of Sussex
• 2019 – 2021: Lecturer, MSc Applied Positive Psychology & Coaching Psychology, University of East London
• 2018 – 2022: Programme Leader, BSc Health Psychology, Syracuse University

First- and Second-Author Publications

• Gudka, M., Gardiner, K.L.K. & Lomas, T. (2021). Towards a framework for flourishing through social media: a systematic review of 118 research studies, The Journal of Positive Psychology.
• A call to hope: Spiral Dynamics in times of instability and crisis – LinkedIn
• How watching TV in lockdown can be good for you – according to science – The Conversation

Education & Degrees

• PhD Psychology – Queen Mary University of London – 2020
• MSc Applied Positive Psychology – University of East London – 2014
• BSc Psychology – Swansea University – 2011