Networks
Alumni
Our alumni are our former team members who have gone on to work in politics, business, or public services. Members of our team have gone on to work in the Civil Service, think tanks, pressure groups, political parties, and government.
Jake Poulton
Jake was our Head of Policy and Partnerships for Centre and is now the Senior Public Affairs Officer at the UK Dementia Research Institute. Jake was also the Senior Public Affairs Officer at the Nursing and Midwifery Council. He served as the Public Affairs Coordinator for Red Cross Policy, sits as a Charity Trustee, and runs Strategic Communications for Our Generation for Inclusive Peace.
Josie Oatley
Josie was our Justice Spokesperson and now works at Legal 500 as a Researcher. She holds a History degree from Durham University, worked as an editor and writer for a university magazine, and studied illegal immigration as as a legal research assistant.
Tom Risby
Tom was our Health Spokesperson and then went on to work as the Policy & Public Affairs Officer for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. He also completed an MSc in Philosophy and Public Policy from LSE. Before graduating, he worked in policy development and public affairs within the UKs nascent medicinal cannabis sector.
Ariane Far
Ariane was our Environment Spokesperson and then went on to work as a Senior Policy Advisor in Environmental Trade at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. She now works for the Home Office. Ariane also has experience as a freelance writer for the Oxford Business Review and as a Communications Intern at the UN Environment Programme.
Olivia Sharma
Olivia was our Democracy Spokesperson and works for a Liberal Democrat MP. Alongside her job, Olivia has campaigned in multiple local elections and by-elections for the Liberal Democrats. She is currently a member of ParliGENDER, the workplace equality network for gender equality in Parliament. She is also a Politics (MA) graduate from the University of Edinburgh.
Alex Toal
Alex was our Head of Social Media and now works as the Communications Executive at the Housing Forum. He previously worked at the Institute for Government as the Events Officer, at Make Votes Matter as the Alliance and Support Executive, and holds a Masters in Public Administration from the University of York.
Alicia Pearson
Alicia was our Education Spokesperson and now works at Red Flag Global as an Account Executive. She previously worked at Charlesbye as a Research Associate and holds a First Class Honours degree in Journalism, Communications and Politics from Cardiff University.
Md M Hamid
Md was our North East Chair and now works as a Lay Observer at the Ministry of Justice. He studies Law through the Sanctuary Scholarship at Northumbria University. Despite not being allowed to work, he volunteered with five organisations, was nominated for an Amnesty International award, and even founded a food bank in Newcastle. A dedicated campaigner for asylum seekers’ rights, his judicial review against the Home Office successfully changed the rules on their right to study in the UK.
Daniel Colthart
Daniel was Head of Website Design and now works as Platform and Planning Manager for the Vodafone Group. He previously worked for the NHS and helped to design and build our original website.
Joe Gellman
Joe was our Head of Research and now works as a Policy Analyst at De Havilland. He previously worked at SC Partners as a Trainee Partner and holds a Masters in Philosophy from Durham University.
Joe Stanley
Joe was our Head of Digital Communications and now works as Media Relations Manager for Leigh Day, Lawyers Against Injustice. Previously, he worked as the Communications and Policy Manager for a Home Office Minister, a Campaign Manager for Sign Up For Sam, and Our Media Matters. Joe is also the News Editor for The Rotherham Current and previously wrote for The Yorkshire Post. He studied at the School of Journalism, Media and Communication at the University of Sheffield.
Sarah Walsh
Sarah was our Head of Policy and is an Organisational Development Consultant at The Academy of Medical Sciences. She has previously worked as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for Colchester Citizens Advice, Essex County Council, and the University of Essex.
Ryan Frendo
Ryan was our Head of Digital Editing and our Environmental Adviser. He then became a Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Assistant at Telford & Wrekin Council. He also studied Marine and Freshwater Biology at Aberystwyth University. Ryan also designed and built our first website.
Pushkin Defyer
Pushkin was our Head of Membership Development. He was previously on the executive of the Young Liberals and is now a member of the Labour Party. He has worked with candidates from multiple parties during election campaigns.
Giovanni Bergami
Giovanni was Centre Think Tank Head of Policy and now works as a public affairs consultant. He is a recent graduate, holding an MSc in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and a BA in Philosophy, International and Economic Studies from Cà Foscari University of Venice. He has a particular interest in analysing poverty and the disconnect between governments and those in need of support.
Cllr Will Barber–Taylor
Will was our Deputy Director and now serves as a Councillor. He hosts the Debated Podcast and the Not A Day For Soundbites Podcast. Will was previously the Digital Campaigns & Media Officer for Generation Rent.
Ashley Routh
Ash was our Health spokesperson. She is the Co-Chair of the LGBTIQA Greens, a former Green candidate in the 2022 Wakefield by-election, and a former councillor.
Marcus Leal
Marcus has a degree in Politics and English from the University of Konstanz and worked as a coordinating communication officer for the first Erasmus+ training programme in Ulm. He was also an intern at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation Office for the United Kingdom and Ireland and a volunteer at the UNESCO Commission.
Sam McCallister
Sam was our Culture, Media and Sport Spokesperson. He holds a BA (Hons) in Politics, Theology & Religious Studies, as well as an MSc in Political Science, both from the University of Leeds. He is currently pursuing a PhD studentship to explore his interest in the use of sports mega-events as tools of soft power.
Madeline Thorp
Madeline was our Deputy Director (Internal) and now works at the National Audit Office as an Audit Associate. She previously worked as a Political Researcher at Animal Think Tank and holds a degree in Economics, Politics, and International Relations from Lancaster University.
Jake Poulton
Jake was our Head of Policy and Partnerships for Centre and is now the Senior Public Affairs Officer at the UK Dementia Research Institute. Jake was also the Senior Public Affairs Officer at the Nursing and Midwifery Council. He served as the Public Affairs Coordinator for Red Cross Policy, sits as a Charity Trustee, and runs Strategic Communications for Our Generation for Inclusive Peace.
Josie Oatley
Josie was our Justice Spokesperson and now works at Legal 500 as a Researcher. She holds a History degree from Durham University, worked as an editor and writer for a university magazine, and studied illegal immigration as as a legal research assistant.
Tom Risby
Tom was our Health Spokesperson and then went on to work as the Policy & Public Affairs Officer for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. He also completed an MSc in Philosophy and Public Policy from LSE. Before graduating, he worked in policy development and public affairs within the UKs nascent medicinal cannabis sector.
Ariane Far
Ariane was our Environment Spokesperson and then went on to work as a Senior Policy Advisor in Environmental Trade at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. She now works for the Home Office. Ariane also has experience as a freelance writer for the Oxford Business Review and as a Communications Intern at the UN Environment Programme.
Olivia Sharma
Olivia was our Democracy Spokesperson and works for a Liberal Democrat MP. Alongside her job, Olivia has campaigned in multiple local elections and by-elections for the Liberal Democrats. She is currently a member of ParliGENDER, the workplace equality network for gender equality in Parliament. She is also a Politics (MA) graduate from the University of Edinburgh.
Alex Toal
Alex was our Head of Social Media and now works as the Communications Executive at the Housing Forum. He previously worked at the Institute for Government as the Events Officer, at Make Votes Matter as the Alliance and Support Executive, and holds a Masters in Public Administration from the University of York.
Alicia Pearson
Alicia was our Education Spokesperson and now works at Red Flag Global as an Account Executive. She previously worked at Charlesbye as a Research Associate and holds a First Class Honours degree in Journalism, Communications and Politics from Cardiff University.
Md M Hamid
Md was our North East Chair and now works as a Lay Observer at the Ministry of Justice. He studies Law through the Sanctuary Scholarship at Northumbria University. Despite not being allowed to work, he volunteered with five organisations, was nominated for an Amnesty International award, and even founded a food bank in Newcastle. A dedicated campaigner for asylum seekers’ rights, his judicial review against the Home Office successfully changed the rules on their right to study in the UK.
Daniel Colthart
Daniel was Head of Website Design and now works as Platform and Planning Manager for the Vodafone Group. He previously worked for the NHS and helped to design and build our original website.
Joe Gellman
Joe was our Head of Research and now works as a Policy Analyst at De Havilland. He previously worked at SC Partners as a Trainee Partner and holds a Masters in Philosophy from Durham University.
Joe Stanley
Joe was our Head of Digital Communications and now works as Media Relations Manager for Leigh Day, Lawyers Against Injustice. Previously, he worked as the Communications and Policy Manager for a Home Office Minister, a Campaign Manager for Sign Up For Sam, and Our Media Matters. Joe is also the News Editor for The Rotherham Current and previously wrote for The Yorkshire Post. He studied at the School of Journalism, Media and Communication at the University of Sheffield.
Sarah Walsh
Sarah was our Head of Policy and is an Organisational Development Consultant at The Academy of Medical Sciences. She has previously worked as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for Colchester Citizens Advice, Essex County Council, and the University of Essex.
Ryan Frendo
Ryan was our Head of Digital Editing and our Environmental Adviser. He then became a Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Assistant at Telford & Wrekin Council. He also studied Marine and Freshwater Biology at Aberystwyth University. Ryan also designed and built our first website.
Pushkin Defyer
Pushkin was our Head of Membership Development. He was previously on the executive of the Young Liberals and is now a member of the Labour Party. He has worked with candidates from multiple parties during election campaigns.
Giovanni Bergami
Giovanni was Centre Think Tank Head of Policy and now works as a public affairs consultant. He is a recent graduate, holding an MSc in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and a BA in Philosophy, International and Economic Studies from Cà Foscari University of Venice. He has a particular interest in analysing poverty and the disconnect between governments and those in need of support.
Cllr Will Barber–Taylor
Will was our Deputy Director and now serves as a Councillor. He hosts the Debated Podcast and the Not A Day For Soundbites Podcast. Will was previously the Digital Campaigns & Media Officer for Generation Rent.
Ashley Routh
Ash was our Health spokesperson. She is the Co-Chair of the LGBTIQA Greens, a former Green candidate in the 2022 Wakefield by-election, and a former councillor.
Marcus Leal
Marcus has a degree in Politics and English from the University of Konstanz and worked as a coordinating communication officer for the first Erasmus+ training programme in Ulm. He was also an intern at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation Office for the United Kingdom and Ireland and a volunteer at the UNESCO Commission.
Sam McCallister
Sam was our Culture, Media and Sport Spokesperson. He holds a BA (Hons) in Politics, Theology & Religious Studies, as well as an MSc in Political Science, both from the University of Leeds. He is currently pursuing a PhD studentship to explore his interest in the use of sports mega-events as tools of soft power.
Madeline Thorp
Madeline was our Deputy Director (Internal) and now works at the National Audit Office as an Audit Associate. She previously worked as a Political Researcher at Animal Think Tank and holds a degree in Economics, Politics, and International Relations from Lancaster University.
Disclaimer: Our alumni are not necessarily members or supporters. They are independent and do not necessarily have links to each other, and support each other. We do not necessarily agree with every policy position or statement they have made.
Join our network
Becoming a member of our network allows you to be involved in our work, develop new policy ideas, and connect with other network members.