DrAna Maria Contardo Ayala

Dr Contardo Ayala's research addresses a persistent gap in physical activity science: the underrepresentation of culturally and linguistically diverse children and adolescents in both evidence generation and intervention design. Her work develops and tests culturally responsive approaches to physical activity promotion that are grounded in equity frameworks, community participation, and implementation science.

Her methodological expertise includes accelerometer-based measurement of movement behaviours, compositional data analysis of 24-hour activity, and co-design with communities, schools, and local governments. This work informs scalable, real-world interventions that translate research into policy and practice. A particular focus is adolescent girls from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, whose participation in physical activity and sport is shaped by intersecting cultural, social, and gendered factors.