Meet the team

Principal Investigator

“I lead The Compass Project and am interested in why young people think, feel and act in certain ways - and how psychological traits develop through childhood and beyond. I am excited to work with the young people involved in Compass and hope we will provide them with the support and opportunities they need." 

Project Adviser (pilot study) and Co-Investigator (SATNAV Compass)

As Co-Investigator for the SATNAV Compass project, Dr Hardie provides expert advice on Situational Action Theory, fieldwork practicalities and process and impact evaluations. She is also the Managing Editor of the European Journal of Criminology and an Affiliated Researcher at the Institute of Criminology (University of Cambridge). Having spent 14 years managing one of the most comprehensive longitudinal studies of adolescent behaviour, she has a wealth of experience of transdisciplinary collaborations. 

Professor in Practice Criminology and Public Policy, and Project Adviser

Professor Sutherland has worked on public policy evaluations for more than 20 years, initially in criminal justice then education, but latterly across a range of policy areas. Alex was previously Chief Scientist and Director of Research and Evaluation at the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT). He worked closely with the UK Government and was global lead for BIT’s research and evaluation function, working across policy areas with responsibility for research standards, quality assurance and methodological development at BIT. His role with Compass is as an adviser on research design, impact evaluation, funding acquisition and policy applications. 

Research Associate 

Megan holds an undergraduate degree in Criminology and Psychology, earning a prize for the Best Overall Performance by a BSc Criminology Student. She completed her Masters in Criminological Research at the University of Cambridge (2021). She has gained valuable experience working for Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service and lecturing undergraduates on youth justice, research methods and rehabilitation practices. She published in Criminology, holds a Level 3 Leadership and Management certification and has project management experience. Her interests lie in child and adolescent development, focusing on interventions that enhance the well-being of young people and those around them. Since January 2024, she has assisted Dr Trivedi-Bateman in running the Compass Project.