Demos is pleased to announce the appointment of two leading researchers to develop a new programme of research tackling social mobility and inclusion.

Julia Margo is joining Demos on October 15th as head of Demos’ new ‘Capabilities’ research programme, and Sonia Sodha joins later this month as Senior Researcher in the same programme.

Julia Margo’s leaves her role as Associate Director and Head of Strategic Research at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). Sonia Sodha also comes from IPPR where she worked as Research Fellow on the Strategic Research Team.

Both women bring with them a broad range of experience and a track record of highly influential research on the areas targeted by the Capabilities Programme.

Richard Reeves, who took over this summer as director of Demos, said of the appointments:

“Julia Margo and Sonia Sodha each have a great reputation as top-notch thinkers and communicators. They have a strong record of producing influential research on a range of social and economic issues. I am simply delighted that they have decided to join Demos.”

Julia Margo said:
“It goes without saying that we are in a period of political and economic change and even instability. But for think tanks and research institutes this is also an important opportunity: frankly, new ideas about how to solve emerging problems are now urgently needed.

I think Demos is going to be the place where much of the exciting thinking will be happening now and am extremely pleased to be working with the dynamic Richard Reeves and the rest of his team to move it forward.”

Sonia Sodha added:

“I am delighted to be joining Demos to work on its new capabilities programme, which will take a fresh, innovative approach to intractable questions such as how to improve social mobility and opportunity. It will be very exciting to be involved in this programme of research.”