Helen Avery has for the past years worked with a Formas-funded research project on the implications of infrastructure choices for sustainable development in post-conflict contexts. Other projects  concern resilience and adaptation strategies for rural communities, as well as sustainability and livelihoods in refugee camps and resource-constrained neighbourhoods.

Research interests include creativity and transdisciplinarity, organisational development and capacity-building in higher education, internationalisation, as well as participatory and future-oriented methodologies in a variety of settings.

Helen has a background in economics and education, and has earlier worked for international organisations in Geneva, including the International Red Cross and the Refugees and Rehabilitation Office of the World Alliance of the YMCA/YWCA. 

Member of the Systemic Design Association (RSD); University of the Future network; network for doctoral education FONSYD; network for training of doctoral supervisors NFU; International Collaboration for Participatory Health Research ICPHR network;  FEMISE.