Dr Vera Weghmann

Vera Weghmann is the Director of the Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU), where she has been a leading researcher since 2017. Her work focuses on essential public services, including waste management, energy, transport, water, social care, and health care, combining academic rigor with real-world impact.

Vera's research has significantly influenced policy at the European level, contributing to initiatives at the European Parliament and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). Her expertise in waste management and the circular economy led her to co-design and deliver stakeholder workshops for EU-OSHA, shaping safer and more sustainable practices. Her work on financing public transport has directly informed the People’s Public Transport Policy of the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). Additionally, her research on re-municipalisation and public ownership has supported global efforts to reclaim public services, culminating in an e-learning training course for Public Services International (PSI).

Passionate about participatory research methodologies, Vera co-developed Focus-Arts-Groups (FAGS) with artist Ella Jones. This innovative approach integrates art-making with Participatory Action Research (PAR) to amplify the voices of precarious workers while challenging research extractivism. This work reflects her commitment to fostering equitable, impactful, and creative research practices.