Since 2008 Sara has worked extensively in the charity sector specialising in international development, and is an award-winning fundraiser. Most recently, as Director of Think Aloud Consulting, providing expert fundraising advice to multiple non-profit organisations. She is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (MCIOF), and in 2020, was appointed to the Board of the Young Women’s Trust.
Previously, Sara was Director of Inspiring Girls International, where she led the global strategy to raise girls’ aspirations by connecting them with diverse women role models. Prior to this, Sara was selected for a secondment in the Cabinet Office as a Senior Policy Advisor, managing an £80 million fund to tackle complex social issues. Sara's academic background encompasses Ethics and Refugee Studies. She attained a Master of Science (MSc) in Forced Migration from the University of Oxford, and gained a BA Hons in Theological and Religious Studies from the University of Cambridge.
After 14 years' experience in the charity sector, Sara began as a Doctoral Researcher in July 2021, and plans to combine her academic skills, professional expertise and humanitarian focus, to contribute impactful new research at Loughborough University.
Sara's research is part of the Harnessing Opportunities for Meaningful Environments Centre for Doctoral Training (HOME CDT). The HOME CDT is a collection of Ph.D. projects aiming to approach homelessness in a creative way, from multiple perspectives.
The HOME CDT seeks to build empathy and understanding from new perspectives and under-researched contexts across different types of homelessness, and is developing new methods to give voice to those affected by homelessness as co-designers. The trans-disciplinary team will creatively bring to life the relationships between power, policy and the material realities of home(lessness), to develop impactful and responsible solutions for policy change.
Sara is undertaking the 'Homely HOME' project.
Sara’s research will examine ‘homeliness’ as a multidimensional concept connected to identity. Exploring the intricacy of home as linked to memories of the past, coexisting in the present, and the purpose of hope in designing a better future. Centring on the issues faced by women who have experienced homelessness, Sara aims to provide insights for policy change through a feminist lens.
Supervisors: Professor Rebecca Cain, Dr Ksenia Chmutina, Dr Lee Bosher