Led by director Michelle Mackie (pictured), the centre will focus on bringing the public voice into policy-making and build on the work Ipsos has done in this area, including Oxford’s Climate Change Citizens’ Assembly.

Mackie joined Ipsos Mori from NatCen in 2015. Since 2019, she has led the public dialogue centre, overseeing the company’s dialogue and deliberative engagement studies, including deliberation for NHS England and Improvement (London Region) to inform future decision-making relating to the response to the pandemic.

Kelly Beaver, managing director, Ipsos Mori Social Research Institute, said: “Bringing together our qualitative research team and our public dialogue centre is an important milestone in the continued evolution of our capabilities in this area and I am thrilled that Michelle will be leading our new Qualitative Research and Engagement Centre. She has an impressive track record and is a leading expert in her field.”