Interim Co-Director of Research

Siân joined The Young Foundation in November 2020 and is now Interim Co-Director of Research, and Head of Strategic Design and Insight.

With 15 years’ experience in programme delivery and advocacy, Siân is passionate about enabling organisations to increase their impact. Her work is interdisciplinary by default, bridging research and innovation – and spans a range of policy topics including public services, place-making, civil society, workforce skills and business innovation.

Siân oversees a portfolio of research and design projects for national and local partners at The Young Foundation, with an emphasis on participatory research, strategic design and creative methods. She is interested in exploring institutions’ readiness for participatory approaches, particularly in relation to place and the built environment.

Siân was previously Head of Research & Insight at Design Council and Head of Impact & Evaluation at Citizens Advice. In both roles, she developed sector-leading approaches to understanding social value and demonstrating impact. This is Siân’s second time at The Young Foundation, having started her career here as a research intern working on public sector innovation programmes.

Outside work, Siân enjoys travelling and exploring new places, as well as spending time in London. Her interests include photography, arts and theatre, views from train windows, and persuading friends to accompany her on cold-water swims.

Contact information

sian.whyte@youngfoundation.org

Contributions

Ethics in ‘citizen science’

Publication Posted on: 17 October 2024

‘What is citizen science’

Blog Posted on: 9 October 2023

Experiences of ‘citizen science’

Publication Posted on: 9 October 2023

‘A conversation not a concept’  

Blog Posted on: 30 March 2023

Life within easy reach

Blog Posted on: 22 March 2023

From tomato seeds in space to particles from comets

Blog Posted on: 13 January 2023

Perspectives from the field of citizen science

Blog Posted on: 13 January 2023

Kickstarting careers in research

Publication Posted on: 21 July 2022

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