Ann joined Inclusion in January 2010 from Northumbria University where she spent five years managing research for Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) via the Social and Economic Research Framework. A significant part of this work was related to the DWP's disability employment programmes, including innovative action research to develop and pilot a system to monitor ‘distance travelled’ within the field of supported employment for disabled people.

Ann has also developed work related to the evaluation of Jobcentre Plus performance and contributed to the DWP Parent Policy Evaluation Research Consortium via the Evaluation of Lone Parent Obligations.

Ann is continuing to develop these areas of work within her role at Inclusion and is currently directing the evaluations of Project Search, Work Choice and the Commissioning of Specialist Disability Employment Programmes. She will also be directing Inclusion’s input as part of the consortium led by the Institute for Employment Studies to evaluate the Work Programme, which will commence in autumn 2011.

Ann has also worked in a wide range of public sector management and research posts, latterly as the Executive Director of an NHS Trust. This role included particular responsibility for the strategic development and delivery of patient, carer and public involvement. This and her broader role within the Trust required the development of successful partnerships with a number of public and voluntary sector agencies. She has also undertaken a range of project work for the Department of Health and the Home Office and has a robust background in scientific research.

Research interests and expertise:

• Disability and supported employment
• Welfare reform and benefit delivery, particularly in relation to disabled people and those furthest from the labour market
• Public sector management including performance management
• Contracting out of welfare to work programmes
• Qualitative interview techniques and observational research