Media Centre
New research duo to join Demos from IPPR
Demos is pleased to announce the appointment of two leading researchers to develop a new programme of research tackling social mobility and inclusion.
Julia Margo is joining Demos on October 15th as head of Demos’ new ‘Capabilities Programme’, and Sonia Sodha joins later this month as Senior Researcher in the same programme.
Julia Margo’s leaves her role as Associate Director and Head of Strategic Research at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). Sonia Sodha also joins from IPPR where she worked as Research Fellow on the Strategic Research Team.
Both women bring with them a broad range of experience and a track record of highly influential research on the areas to be addressed by the Capabilities programme.
Richard Reeves, who took over this summer as director of Demos, said of the appointments:
"Julia Margo and Sonia Sodha each have a great reputation as top-notch thinkers and communicators. They have a strong record of producing influential research on a range of social and economic issues. I am simply delighted that they have decided to join Demos."
Julia Margo said:
"It goes without saying that we are in a period of political and economic change and even instability. But for think tanks and research institutes this is also an important opportunity: frankly, new ideas about how to solve emerging problems are now urgently needed.
I think Demos is going to be the place where much of the exciting thinking will be happening now and am extremely pleased to be working with the dynamic Richard Reeves and the rest of his team to move it forward."
Sonia Sodha added:
"I am delighted to be joining Demos to work on its new capabilities programme, which will take a fresh, innovative approach to intractable questions such as how to improve social mobility and opportunity. It will be very exciting to be involved in this programme of research."
END.
Notes to editors:
Julia Margo was Associate Director, Head of Strategic Research and Editor of Public Policy Review at IPPR. While there she led the Institute’s work on young people and childhood, emotional wellbeing, demographic change, social mobility, education and teaching, youth crime and antisocial behaviour, publishing several reports and numerous policy papers and winning an award for think tank publication of the year. Previous to working at ippr she worked as contributing editor at Prospect magazine, deputy editor and commissioning editor on the Sunday Times News Review, and as Parliamentary Researcher to Paddy Ashdown and Simon Hughes.
Sonia Sodha leaves her role as Research Fellow on the Strategic Research Team at IPPR, previous to which she researched in the Institute’s Social Policy Team. She has also published widely on childhood, wellbeing, equalities and housing. Previous to her roles at IPPR she had work experience at the Social Market Foundation and Home Office. She holds a Masters in Politics from Oxford University.
Richard Reeves took up his post as Director on 9 September 2008. He succeeded Catherine Fieschi who left Demos to focus on research and writing.
The new Demos Capabilities Programme, to be led by Julia Margo, will address the qualities and capacities needed by individuals to equip them for life the twenty-first century, globalised world. It will address issues across education, health, character, social inclusion and wellbeing.
Contacts:
Richard Reeves – 70970 007128
Julia Margo – 07801 151629
Peter Harrington – 07939 664133