Study and Scholars
Professor the Lord Norton of Louth - Director of Studies
Alex Boughton - Deputy Chief Executive & Director, Study and Scholars Programme
Ivanna Chakma - Study and Scholars Programme Coordinator
Alexandra Vincenti - Study and Scholars Programme Coordinator (Maternity cover until September 2009)
Dr Peter Catterall - Scholars Programme Lecturer
Dr Matthew Cole - Scholars Programme Lecturer
Dr Mette Jolly - Scholars Programme Lecturer
Visiting Fellows
Dr Sarah Childs
Professor Philip Cowley
Finance and Office Management
Ruth Naftalin - Finance Director
Janelle Blake - Finance Assistant
Lisa Willsher - Office Manager and Assistant to the Chief Executive
Fiona - Chief Executive
Fiona is Chief Executive of the Hansard Society and has held this position since 2007. She oversees all output of the Society, is responsible for the 22 staff in London and Scotland and, along with the Council, develops the strategies and policies that guide the organisation in meeting its aims and objectives. She is also responsible for representing the organisation to external audiences and ensuring that the Hansard Society is promoted effectively amongst its primary stakeholders. Fiona is also an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Fiona has worked at the Hansard Society for four years and before becoming Chief Executive she was Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of the Citizenship Education Programme. Before joining the Hansard Society, Fiona was Head of the Education departments at Help the Aged and Quit, and also worked as an education welfare officer for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. She is a qualified primary and secondary school teacher and has previously worked in a number of London schools. Fiona has been involved in writing teaching support material for the Political and Social Education and Citizenship curriculums for the charities where she has worked. She has been a trustee of the Association for Citizenship Teaching and previously sat on several advisory boards including the then Department for Constitutional Affairs Education Information and Advice working group, the Democracy Coalition for Children and Young People, UNESCO's Associated Schools Project Network and the Citizenship Foundation's National Youth Parliament Competition Steering Group. Contact Fiona at f.booth@hansard.lse.ac.uk.
Communications
Virginia Gibbons - Communications Manager
Virginia is Communications Manager for the Hansard Society and is responsible for all communications functions, including media campaigns to promote the work of the Society. She is the Hansard Society's main point of contact for the media and also acts as Editor and Manager of Hansard Society publications. She has worked for the Hansard Society since 1999.
Virginia is a trained journalist and member of the National Union of Journalists and has over 20 years' experience working in politics and communication - including working at the Labour Party and the Commission for Racial Equality. She began her journalistic career with IPC Magazines. She studied History and Politics at the University of York. Contact Virginia at mediaprog@hansard.lse.ac.uk
Kate Egglestone - Communications and Events Coordinator
Kate is the Communications and Events Coordinator managing events across each of the Hansard Society's programmes. In addition to this she works on the Hansard Society's publications while also maintaining the Hansard Society's website and compiling the Society's monthly e-newsletter.
Kate joins the Hansard Society from Unlock Democracy where she was Events Officer responsible for organising People & Politics Day. Prior to this she spent time at CSV as Policy, Communications and Research Volunteer. Kate graduated from the University of Leeds in 2005 with a degree in International Relations. Contact Kate at k.egglestone@hansard.lse.ac.uk
Citizenship Education
Michael Raftery - Director
Michael is the Director of the Citizenship Education programme and has worked at the Hansard Society since 2002. He is responsible for overseeing and developing the Society's work to engage young people in politics and the political process. He has a wide range of experience in producing educational resources including websites, CD Roms and printed materials, as well as running workshops involving young people and educators - domestically and internationally. He has authored and co-authored publications including the Hansard Society's Assembly Members In Schools resource pack and is a member of the Democracy Coalition for Children and Young People, UNESCO's Associated Schools Project Network and he sits on the British Institute for Human Rights In Schools Advisory Group.
Before joining the Hansard Society Michael worked for Cooperative Insurance Services and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History with English. Contact Michael at m.raftery@hansard.lse.ac.uk.
Shez Sutton - Project Manager
Shez is Project Manager for the Citizenship Education programme and is responsible for developing Hansard Society teacher resources and events. Her current projects include Big Ben and All That!, the redevelopment of the Y-Vote Mock Elections, research into engaging young people in political processes and innovative ways of bringing politics to hard to reach groups.
Previously, Shez worked as a Development Officer in East London with Young Enterprise where she gained extensive experience of developing & delivering engaging projects for young people. She also volunteers with various youth projects in East London and is a Referral Order Panel Member for a Youth Offending Team. Shez has a degree in French & Chinese from Westminster University. Contact Shez at mailto:s.sutton1@hansard.lse.ac.uk.
Beccy Allen - Researcher and Project Manager
Beccy is Researcher and Project Manager for the Citizenship Education and eDemocracy programmes and has been at the Hansard Society since 2006, previously working in the role of Events and Communications Coordinator. She currently manages the HeadsUp website and carries out research on projects to engage the electorate with politics through new technology.
Before working for the Hansard Society, Beccy interned in Parliament with a Liberal Democrat MP where she wrote press releases and briefings, responded to constituents' concerns about policy and updated the website. Previous to this, Beccy worked evening shifts at the Liberal Democrat call centre and interned with the Social Market Foundation, a social policy think tank. She graduated from Sheffield University in 2005 with a Bachelors and a Masters degree in politics. Contact Beccy at r.allen@hansard.lse.ac.uk.
eDemocracy
Dr Andy Williamson - Director
Andy joined the Hansard Society in January 2008 to head up
the eDemocracy programme. He has an extensive background in research and
consultancy relating to information and communications technology (ICT) and
social policy, with a particular focus on eDemocracy and citizen engagement in
political processes. His PhD, undertaken at Monash University, Australia,
developed a model for emergent eDemocracy in local government.
Andy was for 10 years the Managing Director of a New Zealand-based research and
consultancy company where he focused on policy and strategy relating to ICT.
His academic background includes inaugural Director of a research centre, where
he headed projects focused on community informatics and ICT for development.
Andy has held numerous board positions, is the former Deputy Chair of the New
Zealand Government's Digital Strategy Advisory Group and advisor to a number of
government and parliamentary agencies. An internationally respected writer and
presenter, Andy is well known as a thought leader on eDemocracy. He is a
Research Associate at the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute, AUT University
and at the Centre for Community Networking Research, Monash University.
Contact Andy at
A.Williamson@hansard.lse.ac.uk
Dr Laura Miller - Senior Researcher
Laura is Senior Researcher for the eDemocracy Programme and has worked for the Hansard Society since 2006. She conducts research on a variety issues related to public engagement, Parliament, trust, political campaigning and the use of new technologies. In her time at the Hansard Society she has co-authored Digital Dialogues, a long running research project evaluating online government engagement strategies, and Parliament for the Future, a project that forecasts how new technologies will come into play in both Houses of Parliament. She is currently undertaking research into the use of the internet in political campaigning and regularly presents her work at conferences.
Before joining the Hansard Society, Laura was a lecturer in Sociology at a number of higher education institutions including Goldsmiths College, University College London and Westminster University. She specialised in media and communications, political identities, and governance. She has undertaken several post-doctoral research fellowships - her most recent explores the mediation of public understandings of risk and regulation in relation to new forms of governance. Laura's research and publications have developed ideas originating in her PhD thesis on how political identities are constructed through argumentation. Contact Laura at l.miller@hansard.lse.ac.uk.
Beccy Allen - Researcher and Project Manager
Beccy
is Researcher and Project Manager for the Citizenship Education and
eDemocracy programmes and has been at the Hansard Society since 2006,
previously working in the role of Events and Communications
Coordinator. She currently manages the HeadsUp website and carries out
research on projects to engage the electorate with politics through new
technology.
Before working for the Hansard Society, Beccy interned in Parliament
with a Liberal Democrat MP where she wrote press releases and
briefings, responded to constituents' concerns about policy and updated
the website. Previous to this, Beccy worked evening shifts at the
Liberal Democrat call centre and interned with the Social Market
Foundation, a social policy think tank. She graduated from Sheffield
University in 2005 with a Bachelors and a Masters degree in politics.
Contact Beccy at r.allen@hansard.lse.ac.uk.
Hansard Society Scotland
Emma Megaughin - Programmes Co-ordinator
Emma is the Programmes Co-ordinator for the Scotland Programme and has worked for the Hansard Society since late 2007. She is primarily responsible for coordinating the Hansard Research Scholars programme in Scotland, in association with the University of Edinburgh. In addition she coordinates the production of Hansard Society educational resources for Scottish schools, and runs additional activities and projects that consider issues relating to the Scottish Parliament and the implications and lessons for other parts of UK parliamentary democracy.
Previously, Emma was an intern in the Hansard Society Scotland office during her third year at university, and again briefly after completing her degree, where she was responsible for researching and assisting with events. She also completed an internship at the Public Affairs Company in Leeds which involved research, parliamentary monitoring, preparing briefings and proposals for Select Committees, as well as business development. Emma graduated from Dundee University with a degree in Politics with International Relations (Hons) in 2007. Contact Emma at hansard.scotland@hansard.lse.ac.uk.
Parliament and Government
Alex Brazier - Director
Alex Brazier is Director of the Parliament and Government Programme where he conducts and directs research into parliamentary scrutiny, legislative processes, representative democracy and constitutional reform. He has worked at the Hansard Society since 1999. He has authored and co-authored a number of publications and articles including; Issues in Law Making, Parliament at the Apex, Parliamentary Scrutiny and Regulatory Bodies, Systematic Scrutiny, Reforming the Select Committees, Parliament and the Public Purse, Improving Financial Scrutiny, The Fiscal Maze; Parliament, Government and Public Money (co-authored with Vidya Ram), New Politics, New Parliament? A Review of Parliamentary Modernisation since 1997 (co-authored with Declan McHugh and Matthew Flinders), Parliament, Politics and Law Making: Issues and Developments in the Legislative Process, A. Brazier ed. (editor and contributor), Law in the Making (co-authored with Susanna Kalitowski and Gemma Rosenblatt).
Before joining the Hansard Society Alex undertook specialist research in the Social Policy Section in the House of Commons Library and prior to this was the Committee Specialist for the House of Commons Social Security Select Committee He holds a BA (Hons) and MSc in Social Science. Contact Alex at a.g.brazier@hansard.lse.ac.uk.
Susanna Kalitowski - Research Fellow
Susanna is Research Fellow for the Parliament and Government programme and has worked for the Hansard Society since 2006. She conducts research on a variety of issues related to Parliament, party politics, law and democracy. Publications that Susanna has authored whilst at the Hansard Society include Law in the Making: A discussion paper (co-authored) and Public Attitudes to House of Lords Reform, a briefing paper. She has coordinated contributors to the Democracy Series and is currently editing a publication on the implications of a House of Commons without a single party majority ('a hung parliament'), which will include contributions from parliamentarians, academics and political commentators.
Before working for the Hansard Society, Susanna was Research Associate at the Institute of Public Policy Research where she co-authored a report on international civil service reform, Innovations in Government: International Perspectives on Civil Service Reform. She also worked on a report on the UK civil service, Whitehall's Black Box: Accountability and performance in the senior civil service. Previous to this, she worked for International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) where she authored a number of policy briefings, and as a Research Assistant for the BBC World Service Trust. Susanna holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Vassar College, an MSc in Human Rights from the London School of Economics and a Graduate Diploma in Law from the College of Law. Contact Susanna at s.e.kalitowski@hansard.lse.ac.uk.
Matt Korris - Researcher
Matt is the Researcher for the Parliament and Government Programme and joined the Hansard Society at the beginning of 2008. His current work includes contributing to an analysis of the legislative process and studying methods of engagement between Parliament, Government and the public.
Prior to joining the Hansard Society, Matt worked for three years as a Researcher/Parliamentary Assistant for a Labour MP and Select Committee Chair; managing the Westminster office, preparing newsletters, briefings and speaking notes, replying to constituents and maintaining the website. He has also worked for both the research and procurement teams at the Training and Development Agency for Schools. Matt graduated from Leeds University in 2005 with a Bachelors and a Masters degree in Politics. Contact Matt at m.korris@hansard.lse.ac.uk.
Study and Scholars
Professor the Lord Norton of Louth - Director of Studies
Lord Norton is Professor of Government at the University of Hull's Department of Politics and International Studies and Director of Studies for the Hansard Society Scholars programme. He was raised to the peerage in 1998 and sits on the Lords select committee on the European Union, chairs the Conservative Academic Group and is part of the Executive Committee of the Conservative History Group. He is Director of the Centre of Legislative Studies, a trustee of the History of Parliament Group and President of the Politics Association.
Lord Norton was Chair of the Lords select committee on the constitution from 2001 to 2004 and the Head of the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Hull from 2002 to 2007. He also chaired the Conservative Party's Commission to Strengthen Parliament in 2000 and has been involved with numerous political organisations such as the Study of Parliament Group, the Political Studies Association and the Economic and Social Research Council. Lord Norton has published an abundance of books, articles and papers throughout his career and is an expert on British politics, constitutional affairs, legislatures and the Conservative Party.
Lord Norton has been a member of the Hansard Society council since 1997 and became Director of Studies in 2002.
Alex Boughton - Deputy Chief Executive & Director, Study and Scholars Programme
As Deputy Chief Executive, Alex oversees the Hansard Society's work in Scotland, and assists the Chief Executive in the management and organisation of the Society. Alex is also Director of the Study and Scholars Programme and is responsible for the marketing and development of the Society's range of political education and training programmes, including the Hansard Scholars Programme (run in association with the London School of Economics). Alex works closely with senior politicians, civil servants, journalists and other key political players to develop bespoke political training programmes within Parliament. He has extensive experience working with governments, schools, universities and business on developing educational links internationally. He is currently a Trustee of Coventry 2020, a charity which aims to develop ICT solutions to teaching and learning in schools in Coventry, and he has also been a school governor.
Alex joined the Study & Scholars Programme in June 2004, after working as a teacher in Chile for 18 months. Prior to this, he was Education Officer on the fast-track management programme for Marconi plc, where he managed a wide variety of high-profile, international education programmes. Alex also worked for the British Council in Ecuador after graduating from the University of Leeds with a BA Joint Hons in Spanish and French. Contact Alex at a.boughton@hansard.lse.ac.uk.
Ivanna Chakma - Study and Scholars Programme Coordinator
Ivanna is Study Coordinator and has worked for the Hansard Society since 2006. She is responsible for the preparation and organisation of the Hansard Society Scholars and Research Scholars study programme. In this role she organises trips, lectures and internships as well as dealing with the welfare of the scholars during their time in London.
Ivanna started her career working in local government. Previously she worked in the Mayor's Office in the Greater London Authority (GLA) and was involved in several high-profile mayoral initiatives. During her time at the GLA, she worked on the London 2012 Olympics project which included the London Summer of Sport initiative. Previous to working at the GLA, she studied History with Government at the London School of Economics and completed a postgraduate diploma in Law at BBP Law School in London. Contact Ivanna at i.chakma@hansard.lse.ac.uk.
Alexandra
Vincenti - Study and Scholars Programme Coordinator (Maternity cover until September 09)
Alexandra is Study Coordinator and has worked for the Hansard Society since
late 2008, covering Ivanna whilst she is on maternity leave. She is responsible for the preparation and
organisation of the Hansard Society Scholars and Research Scholars study
programme. In this role she organises trips, lectures and internships as well
as dealing with the welfare of the scholars during their time in London.
Previously
Alexandra worked as Education and Welfare Officer for the Students' Union at
the London School of Economics, where she ran awareness campaigns on issues
concerning diversity and health. She
also advised students on education and pastoral problems. She graduated from the London School of
Economics in 2006 with a degree in International Relations and from Kings
College London in 2008 with a masters degree in War Studies. Contact Alexandra at a.m.vincenti@hansard.lse.ac.uk
Study and Scholars Programme Lecturers
Dr Peter Catterall
Lecturer in Democracy and Public Policy on the Hansard Research Scholars Programme. Peter has written extensively on British constitutional issues, party politics and the media. Apart from editing the journal National Identities, his current research interests range from the development and operation of British Cabinet committees to the role of the Leader of the Opposition in Westminster systems.
Dr Matthew Cole
Lecturer in Parliament & Politics on the Hansard Scholars Programme. Matthew has also lectured in British politics at the University of Birmingham and at the Open University. He was awarded a PhD from the University of Birmingham for his doctoral research on the British Liberal Party 1945-1962. He has published in a wide range of political and academic books and journals, and is the author of Democracy in Britain (Edinburgh University Press, 2006).
Dr Mette Jolly
Lecturer in Politics & Public Policy on the Hansard Scholars Programme. Mette was awarded a PhD from the University of Nottingham for research into democracy in the European Union. From 2000-2005, Mette taught at the University of Nottingham and she currently lectures on the Masters Programme at Birkbeck College London. She is the author of The European Union and the People, Oxford University Press, 2007.
Visiting Fellows
Dr Sarah Childs
Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics at Bristol University. Author of New Labour's Women MPs: women representing women; lead author - Women at the Top 2005: Changing Numbers, Changing Politics?
Professor Philip Cowley
Phil Cowley is Reader in Parliamentary Government at the University of Nottingham. Author of The Rebels and Revolts and Rebellions.
Finance and Office Management
Ruth Naftalin - Finance Director
Ruth is Director of Finance at the Hansard Society and deals with planning, administration and the financial management of the organisation. This involves working with the management team to ensure viable planning for projects, and the preparation of various financial reports for management, trustees and for statutory purposes. She has worked for the Hansard Society since 2007.
Before joining the Hansard Society, Ruth was Director of Central Services for the Federation of London Youth Clubs, from the year 2000. Her role included the reorganisation of the federation's accounting system and responsibility for Human Resources, secretarial, legal and IT functions. From 1991 she was Finance Manager for Penta Housing Limited and also worked as a self-employed accountant. Ruth is a keen volunteer; she currently sits on the Board of Barnet Community Homes, is Treasurer of Elders Voice in Brent and has previously been involved with school and youth groups.
Contact Ruth at r.naftalin@hansard.lse.ac.uk.
Janelle Blake - Finance Assistant Contact Janelle at j.blake@hansard.lse.ac.uk.
Lisa Willsher - Office Manager and Assistant to the Chief Executive
Lisa is the Office Manager and Assistant to the Chief Executive, and has worked at the Hansard Society since 1999. She is responsible for Health and Safety, the maintenance of the office and ordering stock and supplies. She also assists the Chief Executive in administrative work including personnel matters, the payroll, arranging staff travel and accommodation and various financial matters.
Before joining the Hansard Society Lisa worked in the Finance Department of the Citizens Advice Bureaux for over 20 years. Contact Lisa at l.willsher@hansard.lse.ac.uk.