I have published widely on a broad range of policy and research areas (my specialism is in social policy, immigration and integration policy, narratives of regional transformation and preventing gender-based violence). I have researched and written detailed policy reports as well as producing articles for news outlets and blog sites. In recent years I have been instrumental in incorporating creativity into the research process, both at IPPR and the Young Foundation, which has resulted in greater inclusivity and engagement from research participants, as well as wider impact.

In 2014 I designed an in-depth programme of qualitative research (incorporating photo diaries, depth interviews and discussion groups) for IPPR’s flagship project on migrant integration. The resulting report – Shared Ground: Strategies for living well together in an era of high immigration has proved influential in guiding local government policy and was the inspiration for the ‘Shared Ground Fund’, run by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

To accompany the Shared Ground report I wrote the storyboard for a graphic novel, ‘Be Here Now’ which illustrates the stories and themes emerging from the Shared Ground research. The comic is now being used as a training resource by Bristol City Council.

From 2014-2015 I carried out a secondment at the Young Foundation. I designed a creative programme of ethnographic and participatory research for Amplify – a movement of regional transformation based in Northern Ireland and Leeds. This comprised direct observation, walk and talk discussions, collage workshops, group chats and depth interviews. The posters that I designed and produced with an illustrator have been welcomed by local communities, stakeholders and funders. To complete the pilot I worked with a web-developer to design and produce a digital platform (www.amplifyni.org) to showcase the research findings.

Please see the tabs: Reports and articles / Creative outputs for a more detailed overview of my written work and creative visual outputs.