Meet the Stakeholder Panel

People Powered - A global hub for participatory democracy, supporting organizations and governments that enable direct citizen involvement in policymaking. It promotes participatory budgeting, citizen assemblies, and inclusive governance, empowering communities to shape responsive institutions through democratic innovations.

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CC Demos - Competence Centre on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy, an initiative of the European Commission. It supports research, implementation, and monitoring of citizen engagement practices across Europe, advancing participatory governance through citizens’ assemblies and deliberative processes.

Westminster University - Graham Smith is Professor of Politics at the University of Westminster and Chair of the Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies (KNOCA). He is a leading scholar in democratic theory and participatory governance, known for his work on citizens' assemblies and climate governance. 

Dublin City University - Jane Suiter is Professor of Political Communication at Dublin City University and Director of the Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society. Her research addresses deliberative democracy, disinformation, and public engagement. She has led major EU-funded projects and contributed to Ireland’s Citizens’ Assemblies.

Expert in Digital Participation, AI, and Data Ethics - Reema Patel is a thought leader in technology ethics and public engagement. She co-founded the Ada Lovelace Institute and led deliberative engagement research at Ipsos. Reema directs Elgon Social, as an independent researcher and practitioner. Her work emphasises inclusive, anti-oppressive approaches to AI and data governance, advising institutions like the Bank of England.

Youth Focus West Midlands - Ruth Rickman-Williams is CEO of Youth Focus West Midlands (YFWM), a regional network supporting youth work across the West Midlands. It advocates for high-quality youth services and professional development, facilitating strategic collaboration and ensuring young people have access to personal development opportunities. 

University of Birmingham - Nicole Curato is Professor of Democratic Governance at the University of Birmingham. Her research focuses on deliberative governance in fragile and conflict-affected settings. She holds a PhD in Political Sociology and has published extensively on democratic innovations and citizen engagement.

Feste Theatre - Jiří Honzírek is a Czech theatre director and screenwriter, founder of Divadlo Feste. His productions explore taboo social and political themes through documentary-style theatre. He integrates video, improvisation, and dance, and is active in climate-focused theatre initiatives.