our core Team
Liz Zeidler
Chief Executive
Liz is an internationally recognised leader in sustainable wellbeing with over 30 years of experience in connecting, challenging and supporting change-makers. She has been a key part of the development of all Centre for Thriving Place’s wellbeing measurement tools and approaches.
She is a globally in-demand speaker and advisor on community wellbeing and place-based approaches to measuring, understanding and improving wellbeing in all sectors.
Rachel Laurence
Deputy Chief Executive
Rachel Laurence is an experienced local economic development practitioner whose background combines community development and youth work, with local economic development policy and practice expertise.
Since 2012 she has worked in a range of senior leadership roles for Save the Children, the New Economics Foundation and London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.
Lisa Groves
Head of Research, Data and Insight
Lisa has two decades of experience devising and leading research, insight and evidence programmes, across the full breadth of the UK and internationally. She joined CTP in 2023, having previously worked in consultancy supporting clients across the public, private and non-profit sectors to measure, understand and improve their impact. Her past work has explored diverse areas connected to wellbeing e.g. equality, circularity, healthy behaviours, economic health.
katie tiplady-startin
Head of Operations
Katie works to transform the strategy from plan into action through her many years of Operations Management experience. Having worked in organisations of all sizes in various sectors, including start-ups, she brings a wide variety of skills and knowledge to the team, providing support and direction to the delivery of all Centre for Thriving Places projects, working closely with clients, partners and team members to deliver maximum impact and further the organisation’s mission.
Adekemi Omisakin
Data Analyst & Researcher
Kate Broadhurst
Project & Finance Administrator
Rosie Maguire
Policy and Programmes Manager
Rosie is a researcher with over fifteen years of experience in using evidence and insight to inform the design, management and evaluation of policy and practice.
She has worked with a range of stakeholders including national and local government, What Works Centre for Wellbeing, NHS organisations, the European Commission and international and local charities and community-led organisations.
Fraser Bell
Research and Analysis Manager
Fraser is an accomplished researcher with experience working in academia, private sector and local and regional government. He joined CTP in September 2024 following a stint in consultancy and prior to that, four years working in analytical roles straddling theory and policy at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).
Here, as the embedded researcher for SIPHER, Fraser helped to develop a digital twin of Greater Manchester’s population and provided intelligence to fulfil strategic objectives during a pivotal time for the city-region.
our Associate Team
Saamah abdallah
Wellbeing Measurement Advisor
Saamah is a globally recognised expert in wellbeing measurement and policy, having won the Community Indicators Consortium award in 2016 as an emerging leader in the field of community conditions and wellbeing. Saamah has conducted complex analyses for a range of clients including Eurostat, the Big Lottery Fund, the European Network Against Racism, RAND corporation and Eurofound and served on multiple advisory boards, including the ONS, OECD and Eurostat.
Justine Rawlings
Senior Associate
Justine has worked in the NHS for over 30 years and more recently in the voluntary sector both as freelancer and employed. She has considerable experience in leading and facilitating place-based work at a strategic and practical level. Her primary interest is in aligning what we do in a way that reflects what matters to individuals and communities and enhances their wellbeing.
Sam Wren-Lewis
Wellbeing Measurement Advisor
Sam is a writer and philosopher with extensive experience in wellbeing research and measurement.
He’s worked on numerous wellbeing policy projects in collaboration with a wide range of local, national and international organisations, including UK Cabinet Office, Office of National Statistics, Public Health England, What Works Centre for Wellbeing, and New Economics Foundation.
Byron Lee
Training Associate
Byron has 30 years experience in health and social care, community, higher education and leadership development.
His passion is supporting individuals, teams and organisations weave together different sources of wellbeing knowledge, wisdom and practice to support collaborative learning and change and build supportive and inclusive practices, systems and cultures.
Annie Quick
Wellbeing & Inequality Advisor
Annie worked at the New Economics Foundation on wellbeing and inequality for a number of years. Before that she trained and worked in public health, with a particular focus on health inequalities.
She also has experience working in engagement and participation, political education and the trade union movement.
Mel Cairns
Wellbeing Measurement Advisor
Mel provides research and data support, having led on delivery of the Thriving Places Index as well as supporting the creation and implementation of several diverse wellbeing frameworks. Mel holds an MSc Sustainable Development in Practice and believes that nothing is sustainable without wellbeing. She is particularly interested in growing our connections with nature, with our compassionate values and with each other, to support a better world for all.
Wren aIgaki-lander
Strategy & Operations Advisor
Wren is our Strategy and Operations advisor, ensuring our work delivers value and impact to to partners and keeping our organisational objectives aligned with our values.
She brings over 20 years of experience working with some of the world’s leading purpose-driven organisations, helping to deliver on big visions locally and across the world. Wren holds a degree in Finance and Economics and a CSR-focussed MBA.
Clare Goff
Communications & Research Associate
Clare Goff has 20 years’ experience in journalism, communications, research and project management specialising in new economics, good business, local government, and communities. She is passionate about documenting social change and telling the stories of those involved in making better places.
She led the Living Wage Places project at the Living Wage Foundation from 2018 – 2023 and co-led the Good City Economy project.
Annabel Reddick
Communications
Annabel is a writer, editor and communications planner with a background in print and digital media.
She has a long association with CTP both as a volunteer and part time communications associate, and currently provides social media and editorial support.
Nerissa Schuit
Data Associate
Nerissa provides data support and Power BI development for the Thriving Places Index, leveraging her expertise in data handling, analysis, and visualisation. She holds an MRes and BSc in Chemistry, bringing a strong analytical background to her work in data-driven insights.
Eve Blezard
Communities Associate
“As an experienced researcher and community practitioner, I am passionate about improving local communities’ sustainability through combined research and practice. I am interested in storytelling the lived experience to create actionable research that helps inform social policy and service provision that can improve lives and communities.”
opportunities to join us
If you are interested in joining our team, either as a freelance Associate or as a core team member, please check out our current opportunities here.
our board
Rashida Noray
Chair
Rashida is a Creative Operations Director with 10+ years experience in Media, delivering strategic projects across marketing, communications and events. She is currently serving as COO at Climate Action.
“I’m delighted to be on the board for Centre for Thriving Places to support their strategic and communications objectives and helping the team shout about all the great initiatives, services and the impacts of their work.”
Luke Ashman
Treasurer
Luke’s expertise in finance and purpose-driven business makes him a great fit for CTP Treasurer. After Teach First he trained at PwC, was Finance Director at organic tea B-Corp Pukka Herbs and co-founded Not Impossible – the online marketplace fixing UK work experience.
“Throughout my career, I’ve focused on allocating limited resources to create maximum impact, and I’m thrilled to be able to contribute to CTP’s mission of doing this across the UK – so we can all thrive.”
Di Robinson
Board Member
“I’ve spent my whole career addressing disadvantage & inequality to create the conditions for community empowerment, resilience and sustainable local economic development. I believe Centre for Thriving Places has a significant part to play in changing the game for good.”
Brian Connolly
Board Member
As a specialist in place based development in Scotland, Brian has wide experience in all aspects of transforming and empowering communities. His talent for engaging leaders and communicating across public, private and academic organisations sparked an interest in CTP’s mission to deliver an economy that works for people, rather than the other way round.
Dawn Snape
Board Member
“The evaluation and analysis of measures of wellbeing, quality of life and social capital fascinate me. I believe we can leave a more peaceful, stable and equitable world for our children if we re-focus our efforts around wellbeing as a purpose.”
Helen Bell
Board Member
“I’m a storyteller at heart and a firm believer in the power of communications to create positive change. I’ve admired the work of Centre for Thriving Places since I was introduced to the organisation in 2015 and learnt about their mission to measure what matters. As a member of the Board, I try to use my skills to support a systemic shift to an economy that puts the wellbeing of people and planet centre stage.”
Liz Zeidler
Board Member
Co-Founder of Centre for Thriving Places, Liz is a director of the CIC.
For more about Liz, the history of CTP and the vision for CTP, see our blogs, as well as the many resources and reports she has either authored or contributed to.
Chloe Taylor
Board Member
Chloe is a commercial intellectual property solicitor with wide ranging legal expertise in areas as diverse as licensing, patent, trademark and copyright. She has also worked as a legal advisor for Cancer Research UK and as a charity trustee, and is supporting CTP in ensuring its structure and contracts are robust and fit for purpose.
Sarah King
Board Member
Sarah brings to CTP a pedigree in leadership, life coaching, facilitation and people-centred development work. With her background in organisational and systems change within multiple organisations and sectors. She is passionate about supporting CTP’s focus on putting the wellbeing of people and planet at the heart of the story.
