I undertook my Churchill Fellowship in 2011, exploring forms of community mobilisation in the United States and Brazil. It was the most transformative moment in my career to date. I returned to the UK energised and inspired – so inspired that I joined the East Anglia Association committee, acting as treasurer and then chair.

I embedded my learning in a range of community-led initiatives in my coastal hometown of Great Yarmouth, harnessing new approaches to tackling inter-generational poverty and developing more effective public service models. I also served as European Director for the International Association for Community Development. I was fortunate to have some of my experiences of community work published in 2017.

I am currently Assistant Director for Communities and Neighbourhoods at Stevenage Borough Council. I am leading learning for the Co-operative Council Innovation Network on the impact of Covid-19 on public sector delivery models, and the opportunities for a more co-productive future to tackle modern societal challenges.