Profile

I am a quantitative social scientist with over a decade of experience conducting research focused on social justice and inequalities across vulnerable communities, particularly within the contexts of farming communities, criminal and family justice, health, and social care. My expertise spans large-scale administrative data linkage (national and international), data management, advanced statistical analysis, data visualisation, primary data collection, survey design, and public engagement.

Currently, I am a Research Fellow in the Department of Sociology, leading an ESRC-funded fellowship that aims to advance our understanding of farming households in England and Wales. While agricultural policies often prioritise productivity and environmental outcomes, they frequently overlook the people behind the farm business. This project addresses that gap by exploring the interdependent relationship between farm households and farm businesses—highlighting how family dynamics, working conditions, and health intersect with economic and environmental considerations. By moving beyond traditional farm business data to consider the human dimension of farming, the project seeks to inform the development of more inclusive, equitable, and resilient agricultural policies. This work is particularly relevant to policymakers tasked with designing and delivering support schemes that genuinely reflect the diverse realities of farming families. A recent blog post about the project, Behind the Red Tractor: Who Are Our Farming Families?, is available via ADR UK.

In parallel, I am working on a 24-month ESRC-funded data linkage study, led by Professor Judith Harwin (School of Law, Lancaster University), examining the impact of Family Drug and Alcohol Courts (FDACs) on parental offending. This involves the integration and analysis of three key administrative datasets: FDAC, Cafcass, and the Police National Computer (PNC).

I also serve as Co-Investigator on a 30-month NIHR-funded project that seeks to establish a robust evidence base for improving social care provision for imprisoned women. This research will be of direct relevance to service commissioners, providers, and frontline practitioners.

Previously, I contributed to several projects within the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory Data Partnership, led by Professor Karen Broadhurst (Lancaster University) and Professor David Ford (SAIL Databank, Swansea University). I led the study Uncovering Private Family Law: What Can the Data Tell Us About Children’s Participation?, which analysed Cafcass administrative data to determine the extent and nature of children’s involvement in private law cases. This work illuminated key implications for children, families, and the broader family justice system. Additionally, through linking Cafcass Cymru data with health records in Wales, I revealed significant socio-economic and health vulnerabilities among individuals involved in private law proceedings.