Meet the Democracy Matters Project Team
The Democracy Matters project was comprised of the Electoral Reform Society together with academics from the University of Sheffield, the University of Southampton, the University of London and the University of Westminster.
Dr Alan Renwick
University College LondonDr Alan Renwick is the Director (Principal Investigator) of the Citizens’ Assembly on Brexit research project and Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit at University College London. He is an expert on the institutions through which citizens participate in democratic politics, including elections, referendums and deliberative bodies such as citizens’ assemblies. He was a co-investigator […]
Dr Alan Renwick
Dr Alan Renwick is the Director (Principal Investigator) of the Citizens’ Assembly on Brexit research project and Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit at University College London. He is an expert on the institutions through which citizens participate in democratic politics, including elections, referendums and deliberative bodies such as citizens’ assemblies. He was a co-investigator for the Democracy Matters pilot citizens’ assemblies in 2015. His most recent publication relating to citizens’ assemblies is Blueprint for a UK Constitutional Convention, co-authored with Robert Hazell.
Professor Matthew Flinders
University of SheffieldMatthew Flinders is Professor of Politics and Founding Director of the Sir Bernard Crick Centre at the University of Sheffield. He is also currently Chair of the Political Studies Association of the UK and is a board member of the Academy of Social Sciences. He is passionate about working with the public to promote new […]
Professor Matthew Flinders
Matthew Flinders is Professor of Politics and Founding Director of the Sir Bernard Crick Centre at the University of Sheffield. He is also currently Chair of the Political Studies Association of the UK and is a board member of the Academy of Social Sciences. He is passionate about working with the public to promote new forms of engagement. Away from work he enjoys running. rugby and walking.
Professor Graham Smith
University of WestminsterProfessor Graham Smith is Co-investigator of the Citizens’ Assembly on Brexit project and Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at the University of Westminster. He is an expert on participatory democratic institutions that aim to increase and deepen citizen engagement in political decision making. He is author of Democratic Innovations (Cambridge University […]
Professor Graham Smith
Professor Graham Smith is Co-investigator of the Citizens’ Assembly on Brexit project and Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at the University of Westminster. He is an expert on participatory democratic institutions that aim to increase and deepen citizen engagement in political decision making. He is author of Democratic Innovations (Cambridge University Press) and was a co-investigator for the Democracy Matters pilot citizens’ assemblies in 2015.
Katie Ghose
Electoral Reform SocietyKatie Ghose is currently Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society, where she has been a prominent commentator on a number of initiatives including reform of the House of Lords, voting systems and a UK-wide constitutional convention. A barrister by training, she was previously the Director of the British Institute of Human Rights and prior […]
Katie Ghose
Katie Ghose is currently Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society, where she has been a prominent commentator on a number of initiatives including reform of the House of Lords, voting systems and a UK-wide constitutional convention.
A barrister by training, she was previously the Director of the British Institute of Human Rights and prior to this held a number of roles in the charity sector. These included Parliamentary and Campaigns Manager for Age Concern England, Campaigns Manager for the Child Accident Prevention Trust and Parliamentary Liaison Officer for Citizens Advice.
In 2015 Katie was appointed a Council Member at the University of Sussex. She is also on the Board of US organisation Fair Vote, and has been a trustee of charities including Stonewall, Bail for Immigration Detainees and Asylum Aid.
Professor Will Jennings
University of SouthamptonProfessor Will Jennings is Survey Consultant for the Citizens’ Assembly on Brexit, providing expert guidance on the design and analysis of the survey components of the project. He is also Professor of Political Science and Public Policy and Director of the Centre for Citizenship, Globalisation and Governance at the University of Southampton.
Professor Will Jennings
Professor Will Jennings is Survey Consultant for the Citizens’ Assembly on Brexit, providing expert guidance on the design and analysis of the survey components of the project. He is also Professor of Political Science and Public Policy and Director of the Centre for Citizenship, Globalisation and Governance at the University of Southampton.
Professor Gerry Stoker
University of SouthamptonGerry Stoker is Centenary Research Professor at the University of Canberra, Australia and also Professor of Politics and Governance at the University of Southampton, UK. Professor Stoker has always been an engaged scholar. In 2001 he was designated by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as a Hero of Dissemination and in 2004 […]
Professor Gerry Stoker
Gerry Stoker is Centenary Research Professor at the University of Canberra, Australia and also Professor of Politics and Governance at the University of Southampton, UK. Professor Stoker has always been an engaged scholar. In 2001 he was designated by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as a Hero of Dissemination and in 2004 received a “Making A Difference” Award from the UK Political Studies Association for the impact of his work on governance. He was the founding chair of the New Local Government Network (UK) which was the think-tank of the year in 2004, senior policy advisor on local government reform to the Blair Government and author of the award winning book Why Politics Matters: Making Democracy Work. From 2004-8 he held a prestigious professorial fellowship funded by the ESRC. In 2012 Gerry was appointed as the founding director of PublicPolicy@Southampton, a unit within the University that seeks to connect high quality research from all the University disciplines with policymakers.
Dr Edward Molloy
Electoral Reform SocietyDr Edward Molloy is the Democratic Innovations Officer at the Electoral Reform Society and is coordinating the ERS’s role as the Citizens’ Assembly’s Impact and Public Engagement Partner.
Dr Edward Molloy
Dr Edward Molloy is the Democratic Innovations Officer at the Electoral Reform Society and is coordinating the ERS’s role as the Citizens’ Assembly’s Impact and Public Engagement Partner.
Dr Paolo Spada
Paolo Spada received his Ph.D. in political science from Yale University in May 2012. Spada also holds a Ph.D. in economics from Bologna University (2006). His research interests lie in the diffusion and impact evaluation of Democratic Innovations. He is a member of the core development team of Participedia, of the research board of the […]
Dr Paolo Spada
Paolo Spada received his Ph.D. in political science from Yale University in May 2012. Spada also holds a Ph.D. in economics from Bologna University (2006). His research interests lie in the diffusion and impact evaluation of Democratic Innovations. He is a member of the core development team of Participedia, of the research board of the Participatory Budgeting Project, and a member of the World Bank’s Digital Engagement Evaluation Team. Before joining the Democracy Matters team, Paolo has contributed to the implementation and evaluation of Deliberative Polls, Citizens’ Assemblies, Participatory Budgetings, Americaspeaks 21st Century Town Meetings, and community driven development projects. Most of his research centers on how to optimize Democratic Innovations and how to improve the methodologies currently adopted to evaluate them. For more details on Paolo’s work see his personal webpage.
Dr Brenton Prosser
University of SheffieldBrenton Prosser is a member of the Sir Bernard Crick Centre at the University of Sheffield. He is an expert on minority government, federal government and public policy in Australia. His experience outside of academia includes a time as Chief of Staff to a ‘balance of power’ Senator during the global financial crisis, and as Director […]
Dr Brenton Prosser
Brenton Prosser is a member of the Sir Bernard Crick Centre at the University of Sheffield. He is an expert on minority government, federal government and public policy in Australia. His experience outside of academia includes a time as Chief of Staff to a ‘balance of power’ Senator during the global financial crisis, and as Director for multi-level governance within the Federal Attorney-General’s department.