Julian Sikondari is Project Manager for the WestFocus Social Inclusion Network. After studying BA Economics at Essex University he worked as part of the International Department at AMICUS [now known as Unite the Union]. Julian then worked in the European Parliament in Brussels for a Member of the European Parliament whilst writing a European Commission funded document on the impact of the Euro. He followed this by completing an MA in International Business. Julian then worked at a training provider for 4 years managing numerous projects covering social inclusion, education & training, SME engagement and international collaboration. Julian is a qualified PRINCE II Practitioner and was the UK project co-ordinator for the Leonardo Da Vinci 2004 winning project, “Accumulated Knowledge and Skills” competing with approximately 4000 international projects. He recently completed the Roehampton MBA programme with a dissertation on the skills needs of social enterprises.

Joanne Sibthorpe is Project Officer for the WestFocus Social Inclusion Network. Jo gained a BSc Sociology at Roehampton University as a mature student and her research career subsequently began in 2003 when she started as a Research Officer at the Roehampton University Social Research Centre. Much of her work for the Centre has focused on local Sure Start evaluations, and consultations with ‘hard to reach’ communities. Jo’s background is working in small businesses, which she continued to do whilst studying the BSc part-time. She is also a qualified parenting education facilitator and has run workshops for parent/ carers whose children were, at the time, in the Youth Justice System. Jo is currently completing an MSc in Social Research Methods at Surrey University and recently became a WestFocus Knowledge Exchange Fellow.

Stephen's background is in politics, sociology and public policy. After studying politics at Sheffield, he completed an MA and an ESRC research training DPhil at Sussex - with a special interest in the governance of market relations between firms. Stephen then worked on a number of projects for the ESRC and the Anglo-German Foundation at the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies at Newcastle University (1990-1) and at Sussex, where he taught sociology between 1991 and 1994. He joined Roehampton University in 1994. Since 1995 Stephen's main research interests have been in the field of politics and public policy. Working with Luke Martell at Sussex, he has completed a series of studies of 'New Labour', 'Third Way' politics and current developments in government policy. Stephen has particular interests in social democratic theory and practice; the politics of social policy in the US and the UK; the reform of the welfare state; and the role of churches and the voluntary sector in the provision of public services. He is currently completing a second edition of New Labour. In 2004 Stephen set up the Roehampton Social Research Centre. The aim of the centre is to bridge policy-based project work for a range of clients in the public and voluntary sectors and academic research, publishing and postgraduate study. Current projects include a study of social capital and the Methodist church; and the application of new technology in the care of older people. The centre is also a partner in a project to improve the provision of support on work and training in Roehampton; and is currently supporting the development of Wandsworth Borough's voluntary sector 'Change-up' plan. Stephen is also on the management board of the WestFocus Social Inclusion Network set up in 2004 to support organisations that combat social exclusion.

James Humphreys is a writer, broadcaster and consultant in political communications. He is the Principal Lecturer in Political Communications, Advocacy and Campaigning at Kingston University London. His research interests include national and public brands, public service reform and the inner circles of political leaders. He was also the Green Party candidate for Islington South and Finsbury in the 2005 General Election. He broadcasts regularly for the BBC, Sky, ITN and various overseas channels on politics and communications, and lectures at the National School of Government, the Royal College of Defence Studies and elsewhere. His private clients include several governments and ministries in the UK and overseas, as well as campaigning groups and businesses. Until 2003, he was Head of Corporate Communications in the Prime Minister's Office, where he was responsible for direct communications, branding, advertising and marketing, new media, relations with stakeholders and communications within the public service. He was also a member of the No 10 Management Board. Before joining Downing Street in 1998, he was a policy official in the Department of the Environment.

David Wright MA MCSE is manager of the WestFocus Social Inclusion Communications Capacity Building project, a political communications consultant to the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences at Kingston University London and a WestFocus Fellow.   He has worked extensively with government, business and the third sector. Dave has managed projects with the Guardian and the Hansard Society, where he is accreditted as a moderator, and has considerable experience in many aspects of New Media, particularly in relation to politics. His travel photography and writings are published regularly, both in print and online. Dave's involvement with primary school sports development spans many years.

Maggie Sumner is Set Co-ordinator for Socio-Legal Studies and Criminology. After graduating as a Bachelor of Jurisprudence (Hons), she gained postgraduate Diplomas in Social Studies and Applied Social Studies from. the University of Sheffield. She was awarded an MSc (Econ.) from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, for research on prostitution in the nineteenth century. She has also studied at the University of Cambridge. Before joining the University of Westminster, Maggie worked as researcher at the University of Liverpool and held an Honorary Research Fellowship at the University of Manchester. She also has extensive experience of research in non-governmental organisations, including the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders, where she was Principal Research Officer. She has published research on sentencing, on race and criminal justice and on the relationship between alcohol and crime. Her research interests include penal policy, race and gender issues in criminal justice and transnational crime.

Antonia Bifulco is Reader in Mental Health in the Department of Health and Social Care at Royal Holloway; University of London. She is experienced at third-stream income generation with social services and PCTs. She has an interest in professional development in social work and expertise in research into psychosocial risks for depression, evaluation and consultancy in children's services and primary care.

David Towell is Visiting Senior Lecturer in Social Policy, St George's University of London and Director of the London-based Centre for Inclusive Futures. He has wide national and international experience in policy, organisation and community action research. His key interests are: promoting the self determination and social inclusion of disabled people in a diverse society; and Universities as development agencies. He is also a member of the Wandsworth Learning Disability Partnership Board and well-connected with public and voluntary organisations concerned to deliver the social inclusion agenda in relation to people with learning disabilities.

Nick is a project co-ordinator working for Thames Valley University (TVU). Previous to this Nick worked as an academic manager at TVU and was responsible for TVU’s overseas business graduate programmes in Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Hong Kong, Singapore, India and South Africa. Nick has been involved with a number of educational projects, both UK and European. He also has an academic career as an archaeologist. Nick Slope is an independent archaeologist and military historian. He has been involved in excavations in the UK, Israel/Palestine and Egypt from 1979 - including the on-going excavations of Royal Navy burial sites on Nelson's Island, Aboukir Bay. He is currently working on a PhD on the application of database technology in the social history of the Royal Navy, 1795-1811.