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.orgContributions
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
Research and engagement to develop ’15-Minute Neighbourhoods’ in Waltham Forest
Publication Posted on: 22 March 2023
Hive Minds: Funding a more participatory future for citizen science
Blog Posted on: 13 January 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
Citizen science, health research, and the fight against Covid-19
Blog Posted on: 13 January 2023
Valuing and enabling citizen science: lessons from the Citizen Science Exploration Grant programme
Publication Posted on: 14 August 2022
Kickstarting careers in research
Publication Posted on: 21 July 2022