I am a highly experienced social researcher with interests and expertise in the areas of youth culture and youth media; young people's aspirations, identities and transitions; and issues of inequality and diversity in the cultural and creative industries. I am passionate about tackling inequalities and a commitment to social justice drives my work. I have led on numerous research funding applications, and managed research projects including: ‘Celebrity Culture and Young People’s Classed and Gendered Aspirations’ (ESRC); Young women’s transitions in austerity (British Academy); and most recently 'Living Gender in Diverse Times' (ESRC). I have also conducted qualitative research projects and evaluations for local authorities; Government departments (DfE); quangos (Becta); and youth / education charities (Media Trust, Youth Music, the Equality Challenge Unit). I am co-author of 'Celebrity, Aspiration and Contemporary Youth: Education and Inequality in an Era of Austerity' (Bloomsbury Press 2018). I also have a number of articles in high quality peer-reviewed journals in the sociology of youth, education and popular culture. In addition to my academic publications, I have written a number of research reports oriented to informing policy design and provision of youth and education services and programmes. I have over 10 years of experience in social research including research design; qualitative methods (interviews; focus groups; creative and visual methods); evaluation; report writing; and producing toolkits and guidelines informed by research.