Tim Hobbs, PhD

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

tim.hobbs@dartington.org.uk | 07856 686820 | @tim_hobbs_lab | DEVON

Tim is responsible for shaping the ideas and strategic direction of Dartington and for the general oversight and running of the charity.

Tim has spent more than two decades working with numerous public systems, charities and foundations to help shape a series of bold investments and experiments designed to improve child outcomes. Underpinning all his work is a deep commitment to generating and using evidence, fused with human-centred and systemic design approaches.

Tim is CEO of Dartington Service Design Lab, a Visiting Professor at UCL (School of Psychology and Language Sciences) and a 2021 Fellow of Practice at the Government Outcomes Lab (Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University). He joined the Dartington Social Research Unit as a Researcher in 2004, later becoming Head of Data and Analytics. He was appointed as the first Director (now CEO) of the Dartington Service Design Lab in April 2017. He holds a first-class BSc in Psychology and Criminology and a PhD in Social and Policy Sciences

DR Julie HARRIS

DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH & DEPUTY DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD

julie.harris@dartington.org.uk

Julie is a social researcher who specialises in evaluation research with a particular interest in theory-driven methodologies, such as realist evaluation, that recognise the importance of individual agency, capture complexity and emergence in systems change and that prioritise partnership and iterative learning throughout the evaluation process. In March 2023 Julie was appointed onto the Evaluation and Trial Advice Panel where she is involved in designing and delivering robust, high quality evaluations to influence policy. She joined Dartington in May 2022, following her most recent role at the University of Bedfordshire.

Prior to this, Julie was Assistant Director for Research and Evaluation with Barnardo's, leading the organisation's strategic programme of evaluation, developing the evidence base and providing support for services in demonstrating their impact. For several years, she also held the research and policy lead for child sexual exploitation and, more latterly, for child trafficking; managing the organisation's research, policy and campaigning activities in these key policy areas.

Julie has particular experience in evaluating local authority children’s services, local child protection and safeguarding systems and the role that the third sector brings to social welfare intervention and support. Her special research interests include the development of co-produced approaches to measuring the outcomes of social intervention that support bi-directional learning between those providing services and those using and engaging with them.

ARIELLE GARTON

DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIPS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

arielle.garton@dartington.org.uk | LONDON

Arielle is responsible for driving impact through partnerships, our brand, communications and external affairs. 

Arielle has spent the last 15 years working to drive collaboration between the private and third sector to create impact for children. Her focus is on harnessing and bringing together individuals’ and organisations’ unique capabilities to create positive, lasting and systemic change for children. 

Arielle joined the lab in 2024. Before that, she was Head of Partnerships at Save the Children, leading some of the best-known and largest partnerships within the private sector. The partnerships that Arielle has led have spanned the areas of early years, global health and tackling the climate crisis.

Arielle is passionate about ensuring children’s voices are at the heart of what we do and are heard by all those responsible for their lives and futures. 

Laurence evans

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD

Laurence.evans@dartington.org.uk | 01803 762400 | DEVON

Laurence joined the Lab in January 2023 and is responsible for leading the Lab’s finances, HR, governance, IT and wider operations.

Having graduated at Salford University with a degree in Telecommunications and Network engineering. Laurence worked across a number of government departments and trading entities to lead and manage scientific and engineering projects and programmes, culminating with a project and programme portfolio of circa £37M p.a. Having achieved an MBA with the Open University and developing a passion for financial, project and people management, in 2012 Laurence became a School Business Manager for a large, highly successful secondary school in East Devon and used his expertise to enhance the educational experience of young people at the school.

Ella Baillie

BUSINESS MANAGER AND EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

ella.baillie@dartington.org.uk | DEVON

Ella joined the Lab in 2016 and supports the Director of Operations with the broad portfolio of support services for the organisation.

Ella is Business Manager and Executive Assistant. She works alongside Laurence forming the Operations team based in the office at Buckfast. Ella first started as a Business Support Apprentice in October 2016 and successfully completed a level 3 Diploma in Business Administration in late 2017.

Rachel Lily

COMMUNICATIONS AND PRODUCTION MANAGER

rachel.lily@dartington.org.uk | BRISTOL

Rachel joined the Lab in July 2019 with a wealth of communications experience under her belt. Trained as a journalist, Rachel has since gone on to work in across many communications disciplines, including public relations, social media management and filmmaking. She now works part-time with Dartington and part-time as a Festival Coordinator with Bristol Pride, furthering her dedication to championing children's rights in the LGBTQ+ community in Bristol and beyond.

Rachel has worked primarily in the private sector. However, her most recent experience working on youth engagement and participation in an international development context has ignited her passion for working in the third sector, particularly looking at solutions to issues facing young people today.

From idea conception through to delivery, Rachel currently oversees all of the strategic communication held at Dartington. This includes planning and coordinating messages and public events, organising PR, briefing and conducting filming, photography, illustration and editing, as well as product design and overseeing the website and social channels.   

Finlay Green

Strategic Lead for Evaluation

finlay.green@dartington.org.uk | @FinlayGreen_ | LONDON

Finlay specialises in formative evaluations of complex interventions. His expertise lies in the application of theory-based evaluation methods, including realist evaluation, contribution analysis and theories of change, to support learning and improvement.

Finlay leads on several projects that bring together elements of user-centred and science-based design, improvement methods and systems thinking. This includes a formative evaluation for the Youth Endowment Fund of a group-based positive youth development intervention, and another for the Youth Futures Foundation of an intervention to support school leavers to enter education, employment or training.

Finlay joined the Dartington Social Research Unit in 2016, moving into a Senior Researcher role in 2019 before becoming a Service Improvement Specialist in 2020. Finlay has a MSc in Social Policy (Research) from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BSc in Economics and Politics from the University of Sheffield.

CHARLOTTE WOODHEAD

Place-based and Complex Evaluation Lead

charlotte.woodhead@dartington.org.uk | Cornwall

Charlotte has a breadth of experience in mixed methods approaches with specific focuses on understanding and addressing social inequities in mental health, and evaluation of complex social interventions to tackle health and social inequities.

They combine theory and evidence from social science, systems thinking, and place-based approaches, taking an intersectional and equity lens throughout. Charlotte has experience in participatory and community-based research, including projects working alongside LGBTQ+ young people.

Before joining the Lab, Charlotte worked as a lecturer in Society & Mental Health at ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health (CSMH) and Research Fellow in the Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London (KCL). Previously, Charlotte worked in the Department of Applied Health Research at University College London, including as an embedded researcher within public health and social care teams.

Charlotte holds a PhD in Psychological Medicine, an MSc in Demography and Health and a BSc in Biology and Psychology.

ediane santana de lima

SENIOR RESEARCHER

ediane.santana_de_lima@dartington.org.uk | @delimaediane | BRISTOL

Ediane joined Dartington Service Design Lab in October 2021, from The Social Change Agency where she worked as a Consultant delivering projects to support and drive social change. 

Ediane has experience working in research, policy and social impact in Latin America and Europe. She is particularly interested in exploring ways in which people at the sharp end of inequality can be meaningfully involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of services that aim to benefit them.  

Ediane has a MSc in Public Policy with a specialisation in Social Policy and Social Innovation from The Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences-Po), a BSc in Public Policy & Management from The University of São Paulo, and a Certification in Social Entrepreneurship from the Youth Initiative Program.

Leanne Freeman

SYSTEMS THINKING RESEARCHER

leanne.freeman@dartington.org.uk | @SBuckaneer | London

Leanne specialises in using mixed methods and systems thinking approaches to understanding the dynamics of social issues. They blend data-driven approaches with community-based participatory engagements to create a holistic understanding these issues.

Leanne has conducted research on a range of issues affecting children, young people and families including child criminal exploitation, mental health and experience of foster care.

They worked at the Lab for three years between 2018 and 2021 on a wide range of projects before undertaking a master’s in Social Anthropology. Their dissertation project examined the relationship between the emergence of social work practice and norms of family life. They also have a BSc in Economics, specialising in economic and operational modelling.

Megan Keenan

SYSTEMIC CHANGE LEAD

megan.keenan@dartington.org.uk | @MeganKeenan_ |LONDON

Megan specialises in systems thinking and systemic change work at the lab.  Her expertise lies in using participatory approaches, including community-based system dynamics, and qualitative and quantitative modelling to support change.  

She has a passion for working with community stakeholders to improve the development and implementation of supports and services to ensure that they are both empowering and impactful within the communities they serve. 

Megan holds a leadership role on several projects that investigate and foster place-based systems change, including the Youth Endowment Fund Neighbourhood Fund project in Bradford and Birmingham, Lambeth Early Action Partnership (LEAP) evaluation, and Kailo.  

Before joining Dartington in 2021, Megan worked at the Washington University School of Medicine where she applied qualitative, participatory, and systems-based approaches to uncover barriers, and develop interventions to improve health supports in the region. 

Megan has a MSc in social work with a specialisation in system dynamics from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. During her graduate degree training she worked in close collaboration with the Social System Design Lab.

KATIE POTTER

SENIOR SERVICE DESIGNER

katie.potter@dartington.org.uk | @KatiePotter93 | DEVON |

Katie has the passion and drive to involve co-production and co-design in all design aspects, recognising that this knowledge and expertise are vital to designing solutions to complex systemic problems.

At the Lab, Katie is our Co-design Lead and one of our Senior Designers, meaning that she champions youth and community voice in all our work and across our projects. She has worked with groups of young people to design place-based interventions to improve adolescent mental health, strategies to support young people into employment, and campaigns and events to ensure key messages are being heard. Katie also works closely with different individuals and organisations to support them to design and improve their services and in some cases support them to think more strategically about the impact they are wanting to create and how they can do that. Katie loves fun, play and games, so rest assured there will be some fun icebreakers and activities involved in any workshop you attend!

Prior to joining Dartington Service Design Lab, Katie spent five years working for a youth charity, Leap Confronting Conflict, developing, delivering and managing a programme designed to support young people in care, and the adults around them, in order to build safe, supportive and stable relationships.

Katie is a fellow of the Charityworks Graduate Leadership Programme, and the Clore Social Leadership, Emerging Leaders Programme.  

Katie upsdale

Senior Service Designer

Katie.upsdale@dartington.org.uk | @kt_ups | Glasgow

George Davis

RESEARCHER

george.davis@dartington.org.uk | WESTON-SUPER-MARE/BRISTOL

George is one of our researchers at the Lab with an academic background in Sociology and Criminology. These studies have fuelled his passion for theoretical research, shaping his eagerness to explore and experiment using a critical eye and attention to detail.  

Since joining the Lab in October 2021, George has expanded his understanding and expertise in the organisation’s methods and approaches, which he has further explored since joining our internal design team. Through this work, George aims to blend the realms of more traditional research processes with that of a more innovative and collaborative insight held within design thinking, enhancing his own learning and intuitiveness.

He adopts a relational approach in his work, believing that impactful change is driven through strong partnerships that foster diverse voices and promote collective learning, not only providing insights but practical and positive impacts.

Annalise Clelland

Researcher

annalise.clelland@dartington.org.uk | GLASGOW

Annalise Joined The Lab in July 2022, after graduating from Glasgow Caledonian University with a First Class BSc (hons) in Applied Psychology. She has a background working within social care and outreach programmes.

Annalise has a keen interest in evaluating research surrounding mental health and wellbeing in young people and data analysis. She is passionate about the betterment of public systems and services that contribute to supporting young people. She has a passion for working with community stakeholders to improve the development and implementation of social services to ensure that they are both empowering, and impactful within the communities they serve. 

cristina Preece

RESEARCHER

cristina.preece@dartington.org.uk

Cristina joined in October 2021, following the completion of a MSc Mental Health at the University of Birmingham, where she discovered a new interest for social policy and co-productive research.

Prior to this, Cristina worked as a pharmacy assistant for four years in an NHS hospital setting, giving her a good understanding of the structure and demand for services. This, coupled with her own lived experience of mental health services has given her a passion for the importance of service user involvement in the development, and adaption of services to ensure both service effectiveness and efficiency for all.

Ellen Goddard

Researcher

ellen.goddard@dartington.org.uk | NORTH WALES

Ellen joined the Lab in July 2022 as an Early Career Researcher. Previously Ellen worked at the Young Foundation where she contributed to peer research projects amplifying young people’s voices, and delivering a COP26 event showcasing innovative solutions to tackle climate change.

Ellen’s interests include data and process visualisation, exploring uses of digital technology to drive positive change, and fostering accessibility and diversity in the social research field. Through her work, she is keen to apply creative approaches to complex social challenges.

Ellen hopes to work towards further research qualifications and build a diverse portfolio during her employment at Dartington Service Design Lab. She has a passion for working with community stakeholders to improve the development and implementation of services to ensure that they are both empowering, and impactful within the communities they serve. 

Zhenni qin

Researcher

zhenni.qin@dartington.org.uk | Sheffield

Zhenni joined the lab in September 2022 following the completion of an MA Intercultural Communication and International Development from the University of Sheffield.

This experience of studying across disciplines encouraged her to look into the importance of people's voices, and of power relations in International Development, which she found resonated with the Systems Thinking Approach and the user-centred design and evaluation at Dartington Service Design Lab.

Having experienced a lack of support herself as a young person and participating in a positive youth development-related placement, Zhenni hopes to make a real difference to the lives of young people. She hopes to further her learning and training in both research and design, alongside devoting her existing knowledge and passion to the work at the Lab.

Rachel Bromley

Portfolio Coordinator and Researcher

Rachel.bromley@dartington.org.uk | North Wales

Rachel joined the Lab in August 2022 in a dual role as portfolio coordinator and researcher.  Previously a secondary school mathematics teacher, Rachel is a reflective practitioner who developed research-informed lessons to improve students learning and outcomes.

Prior to teaching, Rachel gained a BSc (Hons) Mathematics from the University of Chester where she followed her interest in epidemiology to complete her final year project on the mathematical modelling of the spread of epidemics. 

A champion of social responsibility, Rachel has volunteered with numerous charities to support her community; engaging young people in hands on experiments to promote the uptake of STEM subjects, supporting new parents and families in the first 1000 days, and helping organisations become dementia friendly. Having seen the positive impact these services can have first-hand, she is looking forward to developing her skills to contribute to their design.