Through methods such as research, policy and service design, my career has revolved around tackling a range of complex social challenges. Across issues such as digital exclusion, rising cost of living, malnutrition and frequent A&E attendance, a lack of satisfying social connection emerges time and time again.

The UK is chronically lonely and increasingly age segregated. After working on a project supporting younger and older neighbours to spark friendships in specifically designed social settings, I began asking instead how we could build interpersonal connection into people's day-to-day lives.

Intergenerational living is an exciting solution, with potential benefits across, for example, isolation, housing insecurity, polarisation, land and resource use, and pressure on public services. My Fellowship will explore what it takes to create thriving and truly communal intergenerational communities in practice, and advocate for more investment.

Prior to my current role as an Innovation Consultant and Service Designer at Innovation Unit, I have held positions in politics, care homes, nurseries and for a national coalition of health and social care charities.