Dr Tom Stephens, Fhea Email & Phone Number

London Area, United Kingdom

I teach on the LSE's Masters' in Public Policy (MPP) programme, including on the core courses on 'Public Policy Applications' (PP405) and 'Public Management' (PP403). Includes teaching on many aspects of the economics of the welfare state - including pensions design, poverty and inequality, global security, and the dividing line between market and state. My teaching responsibilities include providing academic supervision of numerous (c. 9 a year) dissertation-style, externally-supported group projects - sponsored by organisations such as the World Bank, the Tony Blair Institute, Robertsbridge Stonehaven, the UK Cabinet Office, the UK Department for Business and Trade, Global Counsel, and many others. I consistently receive very positive student feedback (average 23/24 score: 4.8 / 5); and received two concurrent LSE ' Excellence in Education' awards for my teaching in 22/23 and 23/24, respectively.

London Area, United Kingdom

I regularly work with the New Economics Foundation and numerous external funders in the charity, third and trade union sectors - mainly doing quantitative analysis and modelling using large-scale UK surveys, and policy advocacy work. I particularly work in their Early Years Education and Care and 'Good Jobs' policy areas. Research has achieved media coverage in the Guardian and other outlets, and has received good engagement from decision-makers in the UK and Devolved Governments. Refer to the 'projects' section for details of some areas I've worked on.

London Area, United Kingdom

Thesis: "Work and Wellbeing in Modern Britain: An Application of the Capability Approach" comprising four papers - one theoretical, three empirical (quant). Passed viva with no corrections.

Held Cabinet Member responsibility for the London borough’s 87 schools, its award-winning jobs brokerage service Brent Works, and its adult education college Brent Start, taking strategic leadership of the Council’s labour market during the pandemic. The brief included responsibility for the borough's ~£380 million Dedicated Schools Grant; strategic school place planning; school admissions; Holiday Activities and Food; employer and school engagement; and capital investment in schools, skills and employment services. Achievements included:• Leading the ‘Keep Brent Working’ campaign to raise awareness of the borough’s employment support during the pandemic, securing a £500k funding boost from Brent’s Cabinet for Brent’s employment services• Launching a 3-year strategy to tackle in-work poverty and invest in the Mayor’s Good Work Standards, backed by the GLA and London Citizens• Developing a £44 million 5-year programme to increase Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision for young people, increasing available local special needs places by 50%• Bringing forward a £17 million capital investment programme in a state-of-the-art adult education facility for Brent Start• Championing the introduction of a new 'Summer on your Doorstep' Holiday Activities and Food programme in Brent schools, backed by integrated funding and delivery from both the Public Health and Children and Young Peoples' departments • Securing the basis for a sustainable future for Islamia Primary School within the Maintained School system, in the context of significant pressures on school place planning, capital funding, and site availability

Brent, Greater London, United Kingdom

Was elected in May 2018 to serve as a councillor in a north-west London borough, serving a 4-year term. The role involved playing a key role in scrutiny of local government decision-making, later taking on a role in the executive of the local council. Achievements included:• Chairing and authoring two scrutiny inquiries for the Council: on air quality and council democracy and structures• Serving on three scrutiny committees: community and wellbeing (inc. health and social care), housing, and resources & public realm (inc. employment and skills)• Regularly engaging with senior council officers on day-to-day policy issues, including casework• Raising the second-highest amount of ward casework of any Brent CouncillorCommittee membership: • Member, Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee, July 2019-September 2020• Member, Community and Well-being Scrutiny Committee, May 2019-September 2020• Member, Brent Pension Fund Sub-Committee, May 2018-September 2020• Member, Teachers’ Joint Consultative Committee, May 2018-September 2020• Member, Housing Scrutiny Committee, May 2018-May 2019Task groups:• Member, Council Tax Reform Task Group, January 2019-September 2019• Member, Knife Crime Task Group, December 2018-September 2019• Member, Service Provision on Housing Estates Task Group, November 2018-April 2019• Member, Brent Local Plan Task Group, July 2018-March 2019• Member, 2018/19-2020/21 Budget Scrutiny Panel, September 2018-December 2018• Member, Affordable Housing Task Group - May 2018-October 2018

London, United Kingdom

Worked in an award-winning health policy and public affairs consultancy, with charitable, private and voluntary sector clients. Achievements include:• Achieving media coverage for public polling for the Lancet Commission on Liver Disease and for work on out-of-area placements for people with mental health needs. • Winning several pitches for new business for new clients, including in the charities sector haemophilia care sector and in diagnostics devices. • Playing a key role in Incisive’s work on Parliamentary scrutiny, training staff on obtaining news coverage from parliamentary questions.

London, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

Had primary responsibility for all Parliamentary campaigning, policy advice and research for the Labour MP, leading her work on two successful health campaigns: achieving an inquiry into the infected blood scandal; and pressing to reform Britain’s abortion laws. Achievements include:• Forcing the Government to commit to the Infected Blood Inquiry in July 2017, through Parliamentary tactics and campaigning• Working with campaigners, MPs and senior civil servants to subsequently ensure the terms of reference and leadership of the inquiry were appropriate • Ghost-writing over two dozen articles for the MP in a range of media, including the Guardian, Times and New Statesman• Securing four Urgent Questions and one Emergency Debate in the House of Commons, and writing speeches for all of them• Assisting her in preparing over 120 interventions in Parliament and tabling 817 written parliamentary questions - well above average amongst MPs• Working with her on reproductive healthcare law reform, getting Parliament to successfully vote through a Ten-Minute Rule Bill on abortion decriminalisation in March 2017• Subsequently working with legislative experts to draft a Bill on abortion decriminalisation• The MP subsequently won the Political Studies Association's Parliamentarian of the Year award for her work on infected blood and abortion law reform, and was elected by MPs to serve as the Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee

London, United Kingdom

Had key responsibility for the MP’s policy work and research, after being part of the team who organised her successful election campaign in May 2015. Achievements include:• Securing media coverage in news outlets on topics ranging from academisation to refugee support, cuts to employment agencies, tax avoidance and cold calling complaints and fines• Writing articles and letters for the MP in a range of media, including the Independent, Guardian and Huffington Post• Having key responsibility for responding to all policy queries raised by constituents of the MP, drafting all answers to any policy-related queries in the constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn• Supporting the MP in national campaigns, including the 'free Nazanin' campaign• Tabling over 150 Written Parliamentary Questions and achieving media coverage in a range of outlets for the answers uncovered

London, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Social Policy, Passed Viva With No Corrections.

Master Of Science (Msc), Social Policy, Distinction

Winner of Titmuss Prize for Outstanding Performance (highest grade) in the MSc in Social Policy (Social Policy and Planning). Winner.

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, History, 1St Class (Hons)

Winner, University of Hull 2011 and 2012 Kingsley Prizes, achieving highest history grade for three consecutive years. Winner, 2013.

Education record