I lead the Climate Citizens research group, which examines how citizens and the state interact in climate governance. The group encompasses nine researchers and four research students, working on issues including democratic innovations for climate, the cultures and institutions of climate decision-making, and public views and values on issues including energy demand reduction and electricity infrastructure. I hold a UKRI Research Fellowship, and I am a Co-Investigator of the Energy Demand Research Centre, JUST: the Centre for Joined-Up Sustainability Transformations, and PACT (Production and Consumption Transformations). I joined the University of Manchester in 2026, holding a joint appointment between the Tyndall Centre and the Department of Politics.
Current and recent advisory roles include advising the Climate Change Committee, which reports to the UK Parliament and Government; Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Initiative, and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). In 2019-2020, I was an Expert Lead to Climate Assembly UK, the first national Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change, established by six parliamentary select committees in the House of Commons.
From 2015-2019 I was a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of UKRI’s Energy Programme, and from 2011-15 a Council Member of the Natural Environment Research Council. Previously I was Vice-Chair of the UK Sustainable Development Commission, advising the Prime Minister and First Ministers of the devolved administrations.
I feature on the Woman’s Hour Our Planet Power List and my book, Too Hot To Handle? The democratic challenge of climate change was published by Bristol University Press in March 2020.
