Maddie is an Engagement Lead at Involve, working across the Capacity Building and Standards and Innovation and Practice teams. Maddie is an experienced process designer and facilitator with a particular interest understanding how power operates in deliberative and participatory spaces. Maddie takes a thoughtful approach to addressing power imbalances, rank and inclusion into process design and trains on power, privilege and inclusion in public engagement.
Maddie joined the Involve team in Octobver 2019 as part of the Charityworks graduate scheme. The Charityworks graduate scheme is a 12-month placement that combines working for a UK-based charity with the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) endorsed Charityworks Leadership Programme. The programme is designed to develop future leaders in the non-profit sector. As part of the graduate scheme Maddie conducted a piece of independent research exploring inclusivity at Involve’s citizens’ assemblies. This work has informed the development of Maddie’s role to include a focus on promoting inclusive practice in Involve’s work.
Maddie holds a BA in History from Durham University and in 2019 completed her masters degree from LSE in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies. Maddie has always believed in the ability of people-led democracy to promote progressive, inclusive and meaningful social change, and completed her MSc dissertation on La Via Campesina. This transnational peasants’ movement champions a re-centring of deliberative democratic participation within local and transnational communities to shape agricultural policy that is informed by and relevant to people’s lived experiences.
Maddie has previously worked as a Project Officer for Watford Borough Council where she independently conducted research into a grade II* listed building. The work involved creating a museum exhibition and online content to share the history and significance of the building with the local community. As part of her MSc Maddie worked as a consultant for International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC). She conducted primary research into best practices for better supporting LGBTIQ+ individuals and communities in humanitarian disaster response across Asia and the Pacific.
