Listen to Professor Lucie Cluver and Professor Frances Gardner share insights into their work

19 March 2026

In the King’s Birthday Awards 2025, two DSPI professors were recognised for their outstanding contributions to children’s wellbeing, including efforts to reduce violence against children, and to global public health.

In these two short videos, Professors Lucie Cluver and Frances Gardner speak with their colleague Dr Isang Awah about their research, key insights and challenges in their field.

Professor Lucie Cluver OBE, Professor of Child and Family Social Work

Professor Cluver has long curly black hair. She is wearing a black top and pale pink scarf.

Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to children’s wellbeing and to global public health, Professor Cluver’s work combines large-scale longitudinal studies, randomised controlled trials of interventions, and participatory research with adolescents and young people.

Working closely with the South African government, UNICEF, UNDP, USAID-PEPFAR, UNODC, and the World Health Organization, she generates evidence to inform large-scale policy and practice, improving the lives of children and adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.

"What has been most exciting has been the fact that we can actually prevent childhood violence... And so what's challenging is to think beyond an effective intervention to say how do we take something that works and get it to those billion children" - Professor Lucie Cluver.

Professor Frances Gardner CMG, Professor of Child and Family Psychology

Professor Gardner has short blonde hair. She is wearing a dark blouse with a dark blue and green abstract pattern.

Professor Gardner was appointed as a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) in recognition of her work to reduce violence against children. Her research explores how parenting interventions – structured programmes designed to support parents and carers – can change outcomes for children. It has influenced policy makers in the UK and across the world.

In this conversation, she discusses what led her to focus on evidence-based parenting programmes, some significant outcomes from her work, common misconceptions around parenting support, and the importance of holding governments accountable to their commitments to end violence against children.

"The evidence shows that very similar looking parenting programmes, because they're sensitive to parents needs and take into account what they want in their context, can be useful across different places and different cultures" - Professor Frances Gardner.

Listen to Professor Lucie Cluver and Professor Frances Gardner share insights into their work

Professor Lucie Cluver OBE, Professor of Child and Family Social Work

Professor Frances Gardner CMG, Professor of Child and Family Psychology

Watch the videos

Department of Social Policy and Intervention