Darren Powell

Formerly a primary school teacher, Darren is now a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland in Health and Physical Education. His research focuses on the childhood obesity 'epidemic' and the ways in which corporations (especially those of the food and drink industry) and charities are now re-inventing themselves as 'part of the solution'. This includes an investigation of how schools, teachers and children are drawn into the global war on obesity, and how corporations are using concerns about children's lifestyles to promote themselves as healthy, philanthropic and educational.

Darren has published a book ('Schools, corporations and the war on childhood obesity: How corporate philanthropy shapes public health and education') and number of articles and book chapters about these research topics, and regularly presents at international and national conferences.