Claire Lesko Email & Phone Number

London, United Kingdom

• I am currently leading the Commission's compliance work on AI, working with strategic stakeholders to help public bodies better consider equality when commissioning and using AI based technologies. Previously I led the.
• Use the theory of change modelling to identify desired outcomes and best-suited interventions to achieve these.
• Provide expert advice to various public sector organisations to drive their performance in complying with equality and human rights law.
• Develop and delivered training, workshops and webinars to over 500 public sector leaders, inspectors and policy-makers to support their understanding of the Public Sector Equality Duty and human rights legal.
• Use quality improvement approaches (co-design; co-production) and behavioural insight frameworks and techniques (COM-B, EAST) to deliver a series of guidance on the rights of patients detained in mental health hospital.
• Commission contractors/consultants and remotely manage multi-disciplinary teams using an agile mindset to encourage collaboration within teams and adapt to change when necessary.

London, United Kingdom

• I led the development and delivery of various projects such as policy positions, guidance and research. Examples of my work can be accessed below and in the 'Projects' and 'Publications' sections.More specifically, I:
• Produced evidence-based recommendations that successfully influenced national policies (e.g. patient safety, HPV vaccine to boys) through reviewing evidence and engaging with stakeholders.
• Led the co-production of various guidance documents on the Public Sector Equality Duty and on human rights, which have been welcomed and used by public sector leaders and front-line staff.
• Commissioned and managed four research contractors and reported on project delivery, including risks, issues, schedule and budget status (total of £150K).
• Designed qualitative and quantitative methodologies to deliver large-scale research projects across Britain.
• Remotely managed up to 15 team members and put quality assurance mechanisms in place to ensure the delivery of robust research findings.

London, United Kingdom

• I project managed the most comprehensive research undertaken on the state of human rights in Britain since 1998. A board of Commissioners including Baroness O’Loan (Chair) Sir Bert Massie and Prof Francesca Klug led.
• I mapped stakeholders relevant to the Inquiry and I liaised with them throughout the project, including to set-up the Inquiry terms of reference.
• I contributed to designing the inquiry methodology alongside colleagues from the research, legal and policy departments
• I produced the Inquiry's governance arrangements, budget forecast (total of £450K), project plan, and risk register.
• I regularly reported to Directors and Commissioners on risks/issues, milestones delivery, use of resources, schedule and budget status.
• I prepared tenders/job specification and I chaired selection and interview panels.

London

• The investigation assessed how public bodies across Britain used the race equality duty to reduce inequalities and promote community cohesion when delivering regeneration programmes. A Board of Commissioners, including.
• I contributed to the design of the investigation methodology (survey, call for evidence, case studies, group and individual interviews with key stakeholders)
• I compiled the Investigation stakeholders' database, and I liaised with internal and external stakeholders across Britain throughout the project.
• I produced governance arrangements, budget forecast (£350K), project plan, and risk register.
• I regularly reported to Directors and Commissioners on risks/issues, milestones delivery, use of resources, schedule and budget status.
• I advised Commissioners on actions to mitigate against various risks, particularly confidentiality, time slippage and cost overrun and coordinated their implementation.

London, United Kingdom

• This Investigation assessed how local authorities in England and Wales responded to Gypsy and Irish Traveller communities' needs and its impact on race relations.
• I managed the delivery of a questionnaire to 450 local authorities, achieving an excellent response rate of 58%.
• I reported on the project plan and budget to ensure that the team delivered the Investigation within time and budget constraints.
• I processed contractors payments according to contract specifications.
• I carried-out desk-based research on policies and laws relevant to travelling communities in Wales.
• I conducted site visits and interviews using participative tools to collect evidence on the travelling and settled communities' life experiences.

Santa Cruz De Tenerife Area, Spain

• I organised induction training and coordinated the activities of volunteers.
• I supported migrants from South America and Africa to settle down in Spain by providing them with information and assistance to navigate the Spanish administrative system.
• I delivered multiple workshops to help migrants create their CVs and prepare for job interviews.
• I provided simultaneous translation when required (Spanish into French or English).

Cotonou, Benin - Africa

• The Sustainable Fisheries Sustainable Fisheries Livelihoods Programme (SFLP) operates in 25 countries in West Africa.
• I designed and delivered a participatory pilot project that was financed by the SFLP to explore the dynamics and mechanics of vulnerability to poverty.
• I produced the project methodology, project plan and budget.
• I trained a team of 10 local staff on interview techniques and participative tools to collect evidence.
• I led the delivery of eight workshops with experts and two field studies with local communities in Benin.
• I produced a final report of findings and recommendations that the Programme adopted in full and used to inform its interventions in other West-African countries it covered.

Master 2, Development – Management – Environment, Pass With Distinction

Activities and Societies: Financial award received for overall outstanding achievements

Master 1, Social Psychology And Ethology, Pass With Distinction

Bachelor'S Degree, Social Psychology And Ethology, Pass With Distinction

Associate'S Degree, Sociology And Psychology, Pass With Distinction