Our people

Meet the Policy@Manchester team, and get in touch if you would like to find out more about our work. You can contact individual members of the team by clicking on the link in their profile below.

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  Professor Cecilia Wong

  Cecilia is a Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences and Fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Her research expertise includes strategic planning, spatial policy monitoring and analysis, urban and regional development, and housing and infrastructure planning. She has been working on a number of collaborative grants recently, including a five-year consortium project on ‘Tackling root causes upstream of unhealthy urban development’ funded by the UK Prevention Research Partnership and a three-year project on ‘Eco-Urbanisation: Promoting Sustainable Development in Metropolitan Regions of China’ funded by the ESRC-NSFC Newton Fund Collaborative Research. She received the University’s Distinguished Achievement Award ‘Researcher of the Year (Humanities)’ in 2021.

  Email Cecilia

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  Professor Maria Sharmina

  Our Co-Director, Maria Sharmina, is Professor in Energy and Sustainability at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in the School of Engineering. Her research on low-carbon energy and circular economy involves interdisciplinary approaches to complex policy problems, and aims to provide a conduit between academics and policymakers.

  Email Maria

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  Professor Arpana Verma

  Our Co-Director Arpana Verma is Clinical Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology in the School of Health Sciences, and Head of the Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care. Arpana is leading work on co-producing interventions with individuals and communities for reducing health inequalities and has focused on evidence based policy locally, nationally and internationally.

  Email Arpana

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  Hashim Kohan

  Hashim Kohan is our Engagement Manager. He has extensive political and communications experience from his previous role as Head of Elections for a political party and Head of Strategic Engagement for a regional tourism body. Hashim has worked with a variety of stakeholders from across the public and private sector in England and Wales. 

  Email Hashim

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  Terri Lucas

  Terri Lucas leads our Greater Manchester Policy Hub. She has experience working with academics across the University on a variety of policy areas, including inequalities, mental health and wellbeing, and place-based approaches to policymaking. Terri holds an MA in Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, and she is interested in intersectional inequalities.

  Email Terri

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  Logan Robin

  Logan is our Civic Engagement coordinator, working within the Greater Manchester Policy Hub to connect academics with political stakeholders in Greater Manchester. Logan has worked for 5 years across a range of not-for-profit organisations in a number of policy, research, and managerial roles.

  Email Logan

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  Callum Wood

  Callum is our Engagement Officer, covering the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health. He studied Genetics, followed by a Masters in Science Communication. Before joining the Policy@Manchester team, Callum worked in higher education media relations, and has a keen interest in research communication and outreach.

  Email Callum

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  Suzanne Booth

  Suzanne is our Engagement Officer, covering the Faculty of Humanities. She has extensive experience of working with researchers and academics from all areas of The University of Manchester. Suzanne is interested in how policy around sustainability, technology and digital developments affect society and people.

  Email Suzanne

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  Natalie Fenton

  Natalie is our Engagement Officer, covering the Faculty of Science and Engineering. She has spent much of the last decade supporting elected representatives at Parliamentary and Local Government level to deliver successful campaigns. She graduated with an MA in Governance and Public Policy from The University of Manchester, in 2012.

  Email Natalie

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  Beth Warke

  Beth is our Engagement Officer. She has experience working for an MP in Westminster, alongside a recent Public Affairs role within the charity sector. She graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Politics, with a particular focus on British political institutions and devolution.

  Email Beth

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  Emily Slack

  Emily is our Engagement Coordinator. She has experience working with academics from across the University in sustainability with a focus on communications and engagement. She graduated with an MSc in Environment, Development and Politics in 2021, and has a particular interest in social and environmental justice, climate change and gender.

  Email Emily

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  Chris Meadowcroft

  Christopher is our Engagement Assistant, he is particularly interested in intersectional inequalities. He is a recent graduate from The University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing. He has experience working in digital and print media and events organisation.

  Email Christopher

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  Stan Galliers-de Metz

  Stan is our Engagement Assistant. He graduated from The University of Manchester in 2023 with a degree in Politics and Modern History, with a particular interest in European politics and British political history. He has previous experience working in communications and engagement in the University.

  Email Stan

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  Sebastian Boyd

  Seb is one of our Graduate Interns. He is a recent Politics and Modern History graduate from The University of Manchester, with interests in Modern Middle Eastern history and Political Behavioural Science. Prior to joining Policy@Manchester, Seb completed an internship for the Civil Service, working within the Serious Fraud Office’s Special Projects team.

  Email Seb

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  Rosina Read

  Rosina is one of our Graduate Interns. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in History, with a specific interest in 20^th century history. She has experience working in student media, focusing on student affairs and local news.

  Email Rosina