I have regularly organised and facilitated transnational exchange and learning processes with both EU and non-EU countries. Such exchanges and learning processes were done utilising a range of participatory methods and tools, including peer reviews, study visits, action plan development, capacity building seminars, and conferences. Such activities were organised as single day and multi-day events. These activities, accompanied by a strong awareness of the needs of partners and participants and the ability to manage differing views and perspectives, have enabled me to successfully support the development of effective local policies. At the OECD I was involved in the design and delivery of many transnational meetings, from single to multi-day events. For example, during a capacity building seminar on tackling long-term unemployment, I facilitated a session using a ‘cafe style’ format to explore key questions with policymakers and stakeholders. I have used other tools, such as participatory discussions and fishbowls, at various events, including at sessions of the OECD LEED Forum on Partnerships on Local Governance. I have also been able to contribute to Urbact activities, including through participation at the 2013 Urbact Summer University, two workstreams, a network conference and the 2015 City Festival. This has enabled me to further deepen my knowledge and experience of participatory methods and tools for local policy co-production and implementation.

With seven years experience working for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Local Employment and Economic Development Programme I have acquired significant knowledge of how to support integrated, sustainable urban development. In particular, I have worked on a number of different components of successful urban development strategies, including job creation, the active inclusion of vulnerable groups into employment, social innovation, social exclusion, the social economy, social enterprise support and the emerging sharing economy. Quantitative and qualitative monitoring and evaluation tools used throughout my work have been identified with partners, with specific consideration of project needs and requirements, alongside the resources and skills available. My experience has been acquired in a wide-range of OECD member and non-member countries, in Europe, Asia and elsewhere. I have also participated in Urbact work, including: Cities of Tomorrow – Action Today: URBACT II Capitalisation – Supporting urban youth through social innovation: stronger together (2012/2013), the Urbact Summer University in Dublin (2013), and Urbact’s work on New urban economies: How can cities foster economic development and develop ‘new urban economies’ (2014/15). More recent work has been undertaken on the sharing economy, including presenting a Master Class at Urbact’s City Festival in Riga (2015).

Keeping up to date in the areas I work across requires regular reading of a wide range of material, including reports, academic papers, and blogs. This is accompanied by the use of social media to inform me of recently released material relevant to my areas of interest and expertise. Regular attendance and participation at meetings, conferences, seminars and other events are also an important way of learning about new policies, trends and ideas in a range of different fields to do with urban development at the EU, national and subnational levels.