Personal profile
Research interests
Diane is a Professor in Exercise and Health at the Cardiff Metropolitan University, and the Director of the Centre for Health, Activity and Wellbeing Research (CAWR). Her expertise lies in the design, delivery and evaluation of health enhancing physical activity interventions in primary and secondary health care, and in the community. Her applied research interests include the role of physical activity for mental health, physical activity intervention evaluation, and systems-based approaches to physical activity promotion.
She has published internationally on physical activity and mental health, exercise interventions, social prescribing, and nature-based wellbeing programmes. She has worked and led extensively on numerous EU and UK wide projects and frequently presents overseas as an invited speaker.
She represents her University as the institutional lead in the WHO Health Enhancing Physical Activity EU Network (HEPA EU), the Wales Institute for Physical Activity, Health and Sport (WIPAHS) and as co-lead for EuroHealthNet (European Public Health network).
She is a Steering Group member of the Wales School of Social Prescribing Research (WSSPR) and an invited member of Sport England’s Systems Partnership (#UnitingtheMovement) Evaluation Advisory Board. In 2025 she was appointed as the Chair of the Welsh Government Healthy Weight Healthy Wales Active Lives Working Group. She is a member of the British Association for Sport and Exercise Sciences and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health. She has also been a Non-Executive Director (University) for Public Health Wales (2020-2025).
External positions
Chair, Healthy Weight, Healthy Wales Active Lives Working Group , Welsh Government
1 Sept 2025 → 31 Aug 2027
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 15 Life on Land
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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An interdisciplinary, co-designed guide for return to running postpartum—a mixed-methods study
James, M. L., Crone, D. M., Evans, L., Stiles, V. H., Donnelly, G. M. & Moore, I. S., 30 Mar 2026, In: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. 8, 1771882.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Nature‐Based Physical Activity to Enhance Mental Health and Wellbeing: A Scoping Review to Identify Recommendations for Applied Practice
Sellars, P., Bennett, A., Crone, D., Mercer, J. & Clayton, D., 28 Apr 2026, In: Mental Health Science. 4, 2Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
310 Experiences and perceptions of using a digital health intervention
Seckam, A., Ordell, R., James, D. & Crone, D., 1 Apr 2025, In: Physiotherapy. 126, Supplement 1, p. 101587Research output: Contribution to journal › Meeting Abstract › peer-review
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A Whole-School Approach for the Promotion of Physical Activity: An Evaluation of Stakeholders’ and Educators’ Perceptions About Education in Six European Countries
Ourda, D., Skoufa, L., Brighi, A., Crone, D., Edwards, L., Failo, A., Fourlari, S., Huhtiniemi, M., Jaakkola, T., Raptis, G., Sellars, P., Papacosta, E., Barkoukis, V. & Muijs, D. (Editor), 30 Apr 2025, In: Education Sciences. 15, 5, p. 560 1 p., 560.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus) -
Development of a graded pelvic loading pathway using external pelvic acceleration variables to aid return to running postpartum
James, M. L., Stiles, V. H., Evans, L., Crone, D. M., Donnelly, G. M. & Moore, I. S., 22 Nov 2025, In: Physical Therapy in Sport. 77, p. 44-53 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Citation (Scopus)
Activities
- 2 Membership of network
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Euro Health Net (External organisation)
Isherwood, K. (Chair) & Crone, D. (Chair)
1 Jun 2023 → …Activity: Membership › Membership of network
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World Health Organisation Health Enhancing Physical Activity EU Network (External organisation)
Crone, D. (Member)
30 Oct 2018Activity: Membership › Membership of network