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.
Jess Garland Research Advisor jessica.garland@electoral-reform.org.uk
Jess joined ERS in November 2011. A former Senior Political Adviser, she has spent six years working in Parliament for Shadow Ministers and MPs. Jess is responsible for policy and research development for the Society. She has a Research Masters in Government, Policy and Politics and was formerly Chair of a youth-led volunteering charity.
Chris Terry Research Officer chris.terry@electoral-reform.org.uk
Chris has been working with the society since 2012, having gained a Masters in Social Research, blogged, and worked in polling and in Brussels. Chris is responsible for much of the society’s research output, blogs and academic contacts. He has expertise in comparative politics. Chris has presented to government ministers from countries such as Jordan and Malaysia, observed elections in Ukraine and Armenia and written a chapter for the book More Sex, Lies and the Ballot Box.
Dr Edward Molloy Research Officer – Democratic Innovations edward.molloy@electoral-reform.org.uk
Dr Molloy joined the ERS in March 2015 and is now developing the democratic innovations strand of ERS work, looking at how new modes of deliberation and participation can help build a better democracy. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Glasgow and an MA from Goldsmiths, University of London. He recently completed his PhD in politics at Queen’s University, Belfast.
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 British Humanist Association. Charley holds an MRes in Quantitative Political Science from the London School of Economics. He is Vice-Chair for Events 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.
Josiah Mortimer Communications Officer josiah.mortimer@electoral-reform.org.uk
Josiah joined the ERS in February 2015 after working for the Green European Foundation in Brussels. He graduated from the University of York in 2014, studying Politics, and writes regularly for a number of publications including the Huffington Post and Left Foot Forward, where he is a Contributing Editor. Previously he interned at the Global Labour Institute, the Yorkshire TUC, and the Cornish Guardian, and in his spare time is a singer-songwriter and a Senior Correspondent for the website Bright Green.
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 restructure. 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 Director, ERS Scotland 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 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 Organiser 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 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
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