Our staff are based in offices in London, Cardiff and Edinburgh.
Darren Hughes Chief Executive darren.hughes@electoral-reform.org.uk
Darren joined the Electoral Reform Society in 2012 as Director of Campaigns and Research, in 2014 Darren became Deputy Chief Executive, then Chief Executive in 2017. Originally from New Zealand, he was elected to the House of Representatives at age 24 and served across three parliaments. During that time he was a government minister; an opposition shadow minister; a party whip; and in addition to portfolio responsibilities such as transport; infrastructure; social development and employment; and education was deputy leader and then shadow leader of the House. New Zealand has had proportional representation for around 20 years and Darren is a firm believer in its ability to represent people more fairly and for the culture of politics to change more positively.
Dr Jess Garland Director of Policy and Research jessica.garland@electoral-reform.org.uk
Jess joined ERS in November 2011 and is responsible for the Society’s policy and research. A former Senior Political Adviser, Jess has several years experience working in Westminster. Jess has a Research Masters in Government, Policy and Politics and particular expertise in political participation and political party organisation research.
Michela Palese Research Officer michela.palese@electoral-reform.org.uk
Michela joined the ERS in May 2018. She recently completed a research project at UCL’s Constitution Unit, which examined how the quality of information and debate during the election and referendum campaigns might be improved in the UK. Prior to this, Michela was Operations Manager for Positive News, a not-for-profit, co-operatively owned magazine publication. Michela holds a BA (Hons) in European Social and Political Studies and an MSc in Public Policy from UCL.
Charley Jarrett Policy and Public Affairs Officer charley.jarrett@electoral-reform.org.uk
Charley joined in the ERS in March 2015, and co-ordinates the Society’s policymaker-facing work. He previously worked as a Parliamentary Researcher for an MP, and before that interned with the Humanists UK. Charley holds an MRes in Quantitative Political Science from the London School of Economics. He is an executive council member of LGBT+ Conservatives, a trustee of his old youth centre SYCT and a governor of a primary school in his native South London.
Doug Cowan Digital Communications Officer doug.cowan@electoral-reform.org.uk
Doug joined the ERS in March 2015 and manages the society’s digital output across campaigns, membership and fundraising. He holds an MA (hons) in Politics from the University of Edinburgh and has worked in digital marketing for major London venues, including the Hackney Empire and Rose Theatre Kingston. Doug is also the managing editor of Pit magazine.
Lizzie Lawless Community Assistant lizzie.lawless@electoral-reform.org.uk
Lizzie joined the ERS in January 2018, after completing a Marketing Traineeship with Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras. She graduated in 2017 with a degree in Politics from Royal Holloway, University of London, and has previously spent time working in an MP’s Parliamentary office.
Josiah Mortimer Head of Communications josiah.mortimer@electoral-reform.org.uk
Josiah joined the ERS in February 2015, after working for the Green European Journal in Brussels. A trained journalist, he has written for a broad range of publications, from The Times to the Huffington Post.
Rob Cox Communications Assistant rob.cox@electoral-reform.org.uk
Rob joined the ERS in 2018 having previously worked as a senior reporter at the country’s biggest-selling regional newspaper. He has a Masters in Political Science (British Politics and the State) from the University of Birmingham, as part of which he wrote his dissertation on how people discuss politics using Twitter and an essay exploring whether representative government is democratic. Rob has previously spent time working in an MP’s constituency office and while a journalist interviewed senior politicians across two General Elections and the EU Referendum.
Kate West Chief Operating Officer kate.west@electoral-reform.org.uk
Kate is experienced in financial, operational and HR management. Kate was previously Head of Operations at political think tank Demos where she led a two-year programme of internal restructuring. She has worked for local and national government, including the Charity Commission, where she worked alongside the Board and Directors to ensure high standards of governance. Kate is also a Trustee of the charity Wikimedia UK.
Stuart Thomas Operations and Membership Officer stuart.thomas@electoral-reform.org.uk
Before joining the ERS, Stuart spent 3 years as Executive Officer at the campaigning charity the Town and Country Planning Association with responsibilities in the areas of governance, HR and facilities management. Stuart has also worked for Wandsworth Borough Council, Somerset County Council and for Evergreen, an environmental NGO based in Toronto, Canada.
Willie Sullivan Senior Director, ERS Scotland and Campaigns willie.sullivan@electoral-reform.org.uk
Willie is the Director of ERS Scotland. He has worked at senior levels in the business, voluntary and public sector. He was the Campaign consultant on the successful Fairshare Campaign for the introduction of STV for Scottish Local Government and was Campaign Director for Vote for a Change, the campaign to secure a referendum on electoral reform.
Willie was seconded to be Head of Field Operations for the Yes campaign in the UK wide AV referendum. He also has been a paid political advisor to senior politicians in the UK and Scottish governments.
Phil Connor Campaigns Officer phil.connor@electoral-reform.org.uk
Phil is an experienced campaigner and organiser who has worked in the democratic reform sector since 2007. His previous roles include working for Scottish think tank Common Weal, Vote for a Change, Power 2010 and the Yes to Fairer Votes campaign. He is also currently the coordinator of the proportional representation lobby group Make Votes Count.
Jonathon Shafi Campaigns Organiser jonathon.shafi@electoral-reform.org.uk
Before joining ERS, Jonathon was a senior researcher for an independent MSP in the Scottish Parliament where he worked on a range of issues including efforts to develop extended political communication to rural Scotland. He has a long-standing interest in political engagement and brings the experience of various social movements aimed at raising democratic participation amongst groups of people who often feel alienated by the political system. He holds a joint Honours degree in Politics and Sociology and has work published on a range of outlets.
Alice Kinghorn-Gray Campaigns Organiser Alice.Kinghorn-Gray@electoral-reform.org.uk
Alice joined ERS in June 2017. While completing her MA in International Studies and Diplomacy from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, she worked for youth and human rights based campaign groups in the U.K. Fluent in Spanish she lived in both Brazil and Spain undertaking work with local democratic organisations and movements. Returning to Scotland Alice undertook policy research for Common Weal think tank and co-ordinates conferences on political and social issues in Scotland whilst furthering her interest in the political economy of state-society relations.
Jessica Blair Director, ERS Cymru jessica.blair@electoral-reform.org.uk
Jess Blair joined ERS in March 2017. Previously Jess was Policy and Projects Manager at the Institute of Welsh Affairs, a leading Welsh think tank. She was also Acting Director during 2016. Prior to that Jess worked in the National Assembly for Wales, writing policy for a political party. She also worked in Brussels with Regional Governments on lifelong learning policy. Jess holds a Masters in Welsh Government and Politics from the Wales Governance Centre at Cardiff University.
Matthew Mathias Campaigns and Projects Officer matthew.mathias@electoral-reform.org.uk
Mat has over 15 years of communication and campaigning experience. He has previously held roles at National Autistic Society Cymru, National Museum of Wales and Avon and Somerset Police.
He has also worked in various communication positions for a political party at European, national and local authority level. He occasionally writes for online publications Click on Wales and the Wales Arts Review.
Photography: Gus Palmer