Profile

Areas of expertise

• Research dissemination
• Knowledge transfer
• Policy analysis
• Affordable housing
• Neighbourhood regeneration
• Social enterprise
• Employability

Biography

Employed at York since 2008, I work on a number of projects within the Department of Social Policy and Social Work. I run the Making Research Count project, a research dissemination and knowledge transfer programme, which brings together academics and practitioners in the fields of adult social care and children’s social work to make the best use of research findings.

I am also the research coordinator for a Higher Education Academy funded project, which is exploring how higher education institutions can provide social policy students with improved employment prospects relevant to their area of study by focusing on employability issues and developing solutions to practical problems in the emerging social enterprise sector. This project builds on the work I previously undertook in 2010, which focused on developing the Department’s research profile in social enterprise.

In addition, I perform a range of activities to maintain and improve partnerships with local social work employers. These include supporting the Social Work Partnership Board, consultation with partners on curriculum development, matching students to placement opportunities, and exploring opportunities for knowledge transfer.

I graduated with a degree in Public Policy from Birmingham in 1997, following which I gained a PGDip in Housing from Birmingham City University, and became a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Housing. From 1999 to 2008, I held various positions in the social housing sector, including housing officer, research and strategy officer, social investment manager, and latterly as head of service with responsibility for corporate strategy, research and performance at the West Midlands largest housing association. Since returning to my hometown of York in 2008 I have worked on a number of freelance commissions, mainly undertaking housing market research projects which inform decision-making on the future supply of affordable housing.

I am a Trustee Director for the Wilf Ward Family Trust, a large regional charity which provides housing, care and community services to people with learning and physical disabilities.