BSc (Hons) Dip TP MPhil MRTPI

Study Director, Master-Coach, Economic Development Consultant, Facilitator and Programme Strategist, Appraiser and Evaluator.

Career History

Karl Dalgleish is a Chartered Town Planner with over 28 years’ experience in economic development in the public and private sector. Since 2011 he has been a director of Kada Research – a niche practice focusing on UK and International programme evaluation and strategy development and impact assessment. For seven years he was a director at ekosgen working on many economic strategies and evaluations for UK authorities and partnerships. Previously, as an Associate Director at ecorys, he worked on pan-EU assignments. He started his career as a researcher at Sheffield Hallam University at the Centre for Regional, Economic and Social Research.

Strengths

His particular strengths are in business improvement, enterprise, innovation and technology, low carbon and renewable energy, ICT and technology, health and housing, innovation, public policy and sectors/clusters. He has assessed many social, employment and skills programmes too and has expertise around social inclusion and culture. He has worked on the economic impact of economic shocks and recovery programmes.

Experience

He has worked extensively for the LEP network across England, UK governments and Government bodies and institutions. He has also worked for private and third sector clients and on urban and rural development. Karl has managed and directed many regional, UK and International assignments. He is a trustee of a homeless charity in Sheffield, the Cathedral Archer Project.

Skills

Karl’s skills include: facilitation and negotiation; coaching; qualitative and quantitative analysis; strategy and policy development; economic impact assessment; report writing, appraisal, and analysis; presentation; project management; business planning; managing and working to deadlines.

Outside of Work

Karl loves swimming and walking. He is married to Jan and has a daughter Keira and dog called George. He enjoys film, art, and travel.

Interesting Fact

Karl spent a year in Israel and Egypt starting on a Kibbutz.

Career History

Cassie joined KADA Research in 2022, bringing nearly 25 years of experience in economic development. She has worked in the public and private sectors to the role.

Having started her career with Sheffield Training and Enterprise Council, she moved to Sheffield Hallam University’s Business School, before joining the economic development consultancy, ekosgen.

She was later seconded to Sheffield City Council as Head of Economic Strategy and Marketing, before taking up an Associate Director role at AMION Consulting.

Strengths

Having worked on a variety of economic development and regeneration projects for clients including local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships and Universities, her work covers a wide range of economic development activities, including innovation and business growth, skills and employment, and physical regeneration and capital investment. The work she undertakes ranges from baseline analysis and research to strategy and action planning, project development and business case preparation and monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment.

Such studies have included developing economic baselines and providing regular economic intelligence and technical advice on job targets.

Experience

Cassie has extensive experience of reviewing the growth prospects of local economies, current performance and local intelligence, and a recent focus has been on developing funding bids and business cases, across a wide range of funding streams including Levelling Up Fund, Towns Fund, and the Future High Street Fund.

She is an experienced project manager, successfully ensuring projects are delivered on time, to budget and to meet the needs of clients in the public, private and third sectors.

Skills

Cassie has a degree in Economics from the University of Sheffield and an MSc in Economic Development and Policy from the University of Birmingham.

She has a background in economic data analysis and research and specialises in the development and evaluation of economic development strategies and projects at local, sub-regional and regional level.

With considerable experience in engaging stakeholders and consulting with a wide range of senior officers from both the public and private sector, Cassie is practised in identifying key messages and clearly communicating the implications of detailed data analysis to a range of audiences.

Outside of Work

Cassie lives in Sheffield with her husband and two teenage daughters. She enjoys reading and current affairs.

Interesting Fact

Cassie’s family acquired Stanley, a Jack Russell puppy, over the summer, so she is currently coming to terms with life as a dog-owner.

BSc (Hons) MSc

Study Director, Economic Development Consultant, Place-based Strategist, Sustainability and Innovation Researcher, Economic Analyst and Evaluator.

Career History

Sam Nair is a Director at Kada Research with over 12 years’ experience in urban, rural and regional policy, economic development, and sustainability research and consultancy. Prior to joining Kada Research Sam was Principal Consultant at Urban Foresight, where he worked for four years, leading on strategy development, futures reports, and business cases. His focus was on supporting places to develop the skills and infrastructure needed to benefit from global trends and technological change in an inclusive and sustainable way. Directly before Urban Foresight Sam worked for sustainability consultants epi, supporting global telecoms brands to embed sustainability in their supply chain. For three years as Senior Consultant at TBR Sam worked on sector studies, labour market analysis and evaluations for UK authorities and partnerships. Previously, as an economic analyst for the charity Sustrans, he worked on multi-year evaluations to report the economic, social and health impacts of infrastructure. Sam started his career in the policy and think-tank world with spells at Forum for the Future and Centre for Cities. Sam gained a BSc in Geography with Economics and an MSc in Regional and Urban Planning Studies, both from the London School of Economics (LSE).

Strengths

Sam leads Kada’s sustainability and net zero projects. His strengths are in applying a systems approach which understands the holistic nature of places and their economy, environment and people. He applies cross-sector learning and a multi-disciplined approach to economic strategy development, business improvement, enterprise, innovation and technology, corporate sustainability, sustainable development, net zero transition, and industry 4.0 and 5.0. A key strength is stakeholder engagement and recognising how qualitative insight can tell the story which data alone cannot.

Experience

He has worked extensively for national, regional and local government and private sector clients across the UK. He has developed successful concepts and funding bids for industrial innovation centres, developed net zero plans, and created tools to help public sector decision makers. Sam has worked on evaluations, sector mapping, and skills analysis in many niche sectors. He has engaged stakeholders ranging from presenting to and facilitating discussions with heads of global insurance companies at the Lloyd’s of London insurance market to running focus groups with primary school children in deprived communities, and all types of public and private sector organisations in-between in both rural and urban settings.

Sam has built sustainability reporting tools for global telecoms brands, and has helped value the impact of energy efficiency and biodiversity projects for Kada’s public sector clients.

Skills

Sam’s skills include: qualitative and quantitative analysis; strategy and policy development; economic impact assessment; environmental analysis, Green Book business cases, report writing; presentation; project management; business planning; managing and working to deadlines.

Outside of Work

Sam has a passion for sports, participating some and watching more. He enjoys visiting places, whether cycling in remote Northumberland, walking the centres of global mega-cities, or spending a weekend in less-visited English towns to watch football. At home, Sam battles for space on the sofa with two cats (if they aren’t watching the two guinea pigs) in order to read a spy-thriller or classic crime novel, when he should probably be tending to the allotment. All the above require a strong long black coffee.

Interesting Fact

Sam was captain of the London School of Economics table tennis team. Fluent in the lingua franca of the sport he has played matches in places ranging from Cotswold villages to Guangzhou in China.

BA (Hons) Economics, MSc. Economics

Career History

Natalie has nine years’ experience working in economic development and regeneration, with her career spanning both the public and private sectors. She joined Kada in August 2024, following five years working at Hatch (formerly Hatch Regeneris) as a Senior Consultant, where she led many business and place focussed evaluation studies. Prior to Hatch, Natalie worked for York Consulting LLP where she supported and delivered research in health, education and skills. She started her career as an Economist in Warwickshire County Council’s Economy and Skills team, supporting local strategies, socioeconomic baselines and funding bids.

Strengths

Natalie specialises in evaluation and has managed and delivered evaluations of projects and programmes across a range of policy areas such as business support, research and innovation, housing-led regeneration, employment and skills.

Experience

Natalie has worked for clients including local authorities, LEPs and combined authorities, higher education institutions, research councils, central government departments and private sector organisations. Natalie’s work has primarily focussed on theory-based process and impact evaluations, assessing the effectiveness of interventions and understanding what works to inform future delivery and secure funding. She is a member of the UK Evaluation Society.

Outside of evaluation, Natalie has worked on culture and placemaking studies, social and economic impact assessments and strategy; triangulating evidence for clients and creating valuable recommendations to drive change.

Skills

Natalie is an effective project manager, managing teams of up to seven staff and working alongside collaborators to deliver projects for clients. She prides herself in building meaningful relationships and taking a ‘collective approach’ in her work. Natalie is skilled in designing and delivering mixed-method research, drawing on qualitative and quantitative evidence to distil important messages for different audiences. She produces high quality reports and has a key interest in how the intersection of business, people and place can drive inclusive and sustainable growth.

Outside of Work

Natalie loves to travel and enjoys visiting new places with her family and friends. She is a mum of two young children. Natalie likes going to the gym, trying out new coffee and foodie spots, and listening to R&B and hip-hop music.

Interesting Fact

Natalie is a geography enthusiast and can name many countries and capital cities across the world.

MA (Politics), PGCE (History), MSC (Urban and Regional Planning – Distinction)

Career History

Having graduated from the University of Glasgow with an MA in Politics Pat started his career with the Co-operative Bank before embarking upon a thirteen-year teaching career. Initially teaching in Somerset he returning to Sheffield in 2013 to teach at All Saints School in Sheffield. During his time in education, he undertook a variety of different roles including Head of Department, Head of House, and Strategic Leader. In 2020 he embarked on a career change following up his passion for urban form, design, and social and economic planning. Graduating from the University of Sheffield in 2021, with a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning Pat joined KADA in September 2021 as a consultant.

Strengths and Experience

Since starting at Kada Pat has developed specialisms in life science evaluation, place-based regeneration, and social value impact studies, working for a range of clients including the University of Cambridge and Sheffield Property Association. This experience compliments the strong understanding of housing, transport, and urban planning policy he developed during his Masters, and the understanding of UK governance and policy, skills, and education he developed whilst working in secondary schools. His dissertation was focused upon regional attempts to improve air quality through reduced car usage, with other research focused upon including housing affordability, spatial planning strategies, and urban regeneration.

Outside of Work

Pat enjoys spending time with his family. He has three young children and as a family they spend much of their time out in the Peak District walking, exploring, and cycling. He plays rugby for Sheffield Rugby Club, enjoys reading, sport, and cooking.

Interesting Fact

Pat was born with a hole in his lung and has an artificial skin graft on his chest.

BA (Sociology), MA (Methods of Social Research), PhD.

Career History

Sophie joined Kada in October 2021, after completing her PhD at the Centre of Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR). Her PhD investigated the impacts of Universal Credit on health and wellbeing, emotions and the ‘self’ and adopted a longitudinal qualitative approach using in-depth interviews and participant solicited diaries. Sophie has also worked as an Associate Researcher at CRESR and Associate Lecturer and Sheffield Hallam University.

Sophie was promoted to Principal Researcher in February 2023.

Key Strengths

Sophie is an insightful researcher with excellent qualitative and project management skills, and as natural problems solver enjoys working on complex and challenging projects. During her time at Kada, she has worked with clients to deliver high-quality impactful reports including programme evaluations, recommendation reports, strategies, sector studies, and baseline evaluations. Sophie has strengths in interviewing stakeholders and people with lived experience, co-designing and delivering workshops, and analysing and synthesising complex information into accessible documents.

Sophie has experience of working across a range of areas including health and wellbeing, sustainability, innovation, and skills, education and employability. She has particular research interests in health and wellbeing, skills and inclusion, and projects which explore lived experiences of poverty and social security

Outside of Work

Sophie enjoys spending time with family and friends. She likes to explore new places; her last trip was to Budapest. Sophie loves reading, cooking, and making jams and chutneys.

Interesting Fact

Sophie likes to collect vintage homeware especially teapots.

BA (Hons), MSc, PhD

Career History

Dr Laura McGinty is a senior consultant at Kada Research, with fifteen years experience in evaluation and research. Laura joined Kada in 2025, from the Institute for Economic and Social Inclusion at University of Sunderland, where she was the thematic lead on skills and Pathways to Employment, as well as leading evaluations of a UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme, and an arts and culture programme targeting children and young people. Laura was also involved in research on hyperlocal community organisations, particularly focused on bringing skills in spatial data and GIS to contribute to the research on the role of these groups on social capital and cohesion.

Prior to this, Laura was a Lead Consultant at research consultancy Rocket Science, developing experience of evaluation and research on a range of projects across social, economic and environmental themes. Clients included the Scottish Government, NHS England and various Local Authorities.

Laura spent six years at Newcastle University, doing a PhD in the School of Engineering with a thesis titled Business Model Innovation for Green Urban Infrastructure. This project brought together evaluative and valuation principles and techniques to understand the stakeholders and beneficiaries of a city-wide green infrastructure system, with a view to developing business model archetypes that could be used to realise and maximise the potential of green infrastructure for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Following her PhD submission, Laura stayed at the university as a Research Impact Facilitator to support the REF2021 submission, including leading on the development of Impact Case Studies for the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering.

Before doing her PhD, Laura spent five years working in the third sector, as an Evaluation Officer at sustainable transport charity, Sustrans and then as a Statistical Analyst at the RNLI. At Sustrans, Laura specialised in active travel and behaviour change projects, developing mixed methods evaluations and understanding the health, wellbeing and social impacts of walking and cycling. At the RNLI she primarily worked to transform the use of operational data to enable better evidence based planning and use of data across the organisation, in addition she supported the establishment of an evaluation framework across a range of water safety projects and supported the development of statistics for the launch of the now-annual Respect the Water safety campaign.

Laura has a BA in Human Geography and an MSc in Sustainable Communities and Environments from Sheffield Hallam University.

Key Strengths, Skills & Experience

Motivated by a passion for understanding and demonstrating impact, Laura specialises in monitoring and evaluation (M&E), impact evaluation, and translating research into evidence-based policy and practice. With an academic background in human geography, sustainability, and socio-economic inclusion, she has a particular interest in the intersections between people, place, and environment. She is experienced in designing and managing mixed-methods research, triangulating and synthesising information from multiple sources, and creating a holistic understanding of outcomes and impacts.

Laura has topic expertise in inclusive economies, social inclusion, environmental and sustainability themes, as well as evaluation theory and techniques. She brings technical skills in both quantitative and qualitative research, spatial analysis and GIS, research design, and project management, and is adept at designing and managing evaluations that inform practice. Combining knowledge of sustainability, health and wellbeing, and socio-economic inclusion with practical expertise in research and evaluation, Laura is skilled at communicating insights to diverse audiences and applying a cross-disciplinary perspective to her work.

Outside of Work

Laura likes to be outdoors, whether hiking, biking or on a boat. She is a fully qualified Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Day Skipper, and a half-qualified RYA Yachtmaster: Coastal Skipper. Enthusiastic about OS maps, camping, identifying birds, and country pubs, she is aiming to complete the South West Coast Path in stages over the next few years.

When not outside, Laura likes reading (and watching!) ‘cosy crime’ and tackling Killer Sudoku puzzles, with her cats for company.

Interesting Fact

Laura played Ebeneezer Scrooge in a school production of A Christmas Carol, and has a half marathon PB of 3 hours and 11 minutes. These two things are not connected.

BA Economics and French

Career History

Bridget joined Kada Research at the start of September 2021, after graduating from the University of Sheffield with an Economics and French degree. During her studies, Bridget enjoyed modules on statistics, econometrics and mathematical methods for economics. In her final year, she completed an econometrics project using statistical software (STATA) to analyse data from the Land Registry as well as Household and SME finances at postcode level in order to look at the effect of the Help to Buy policy on property prices and mortgages across the UK.

Bridget was promoted to Research Manager in October 2022.

Key Strengths and Experience

Since joining Kada, Bridget has managed a number of evaluation projects and undertaken a range of impact studies and place-based plans. She regularly undertakes desk-based research and data analysis for labour market baseline studies. Bridget brings expertise in statistic and economic modelling, and in her role, regularly carriers out economic impact model assessments, contributing to business case work and evaluation studies.

As a linguist, Bridget is a confident and dependable communicator. She has considerable experience in stakeholder and beneficiary interviews and developing and managing online and in-person consultations.

Bridget has worked on projects for a variety of clients including local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships, Universities and private sector clients. She has contributed to projects across a number of different areas such as innovation and business growth, digital skills and enterprise and careers and employability interventions.

Outside of Work

Outside of work, Bridget loves both watching and playing sport especially cricket, netball and tennis. The summer before starting at Kada she worked at Wimbledon. Whilst at university she played for the Women’s Cricket Team, and she currently plays netball weekly for a team in Sheffield. She is also a keen musician and performer, and plays the piano, clarinet, ukulele, and sings. Bridget loves travelling and managed to do a great deal of it in Europe whilst on her year abroad which she spent in Bordeaux in the Southwest of France working as an English language assistant in two secondary schools.

Interesting fact

At university, Bridget performed in no less than two French plays!

BSc Geography

Career History

Jack joined KADA research in September 2021 from AVIVA having worked for 2 years as a health insurance claims consultant. Jack graduated from Sheffield Hallam in November 2019 with a first-class honours having completed his final year dissertation on the link between deprivation and crime using Birmingham as a case study and implementing GIS software to map the relation.

Strengths and Experience

Jack’s key strengths are in quantitative and qualitative research, GIS mapping and report writing. He has worked on a variety of economic development projects for clients including local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships and Universities. He has extensive experience of business support evaluations and impact pieces, having undertaken reviews of ERDF and CRF programmes and supporting the production of two UK Shared Prosperity Fund bids. Jack’s experience includes areas such as skills, employment, digital connectivity and inclusion, and ranges from baseline analysis and research to strategy and action planning.

Outside of Work

Outside of work Jack is an avid sports fan – primarily football and cricket – and is a passionate Newcastle United supporter. He also enjoys travelling and visited Iceland twice in the final two years of his degree.

Interesting Fact

Jack took part in a two-week volunteering expedition in Mexico that involved scuba diving and monitoring turtle numbers. Fortunately, he didn’t encounter any particularly unfriendly sea life with the exception of some venomous lionfish.

Career History

Sabrina joined Kada Research in 2021 after completing her master’s degree in social research at the University of Sheffield. Sabrina works on a variety of projects for clients such as Local Authorities and academic organisations. She has experience in carrying out business support evaluations for Local Authorities, technology development evaluations and skills & employment research for academic organisations amongst others.

Key Strengths

Sabrina works effectively with clients to deliver robust pieces of research and programme evaluations. Her strengths are in reporting lessons and learning from evaluations and writing recommendations for future delivery.

Outside of work

Outside of work, Sabrina enjoys badminton, gardening and is always in the middle of a new sewing project.

Interesting fact

One summer during her travels – which included a jeep tour to a high-altitude valley in Northern Pakistan – Sabrina hiked the foothills of the Himalayas. Luckily, the only animal she encountered was a wild boar and not a leopard!