The Quay Research Team

Research and process-based evaluations can be powerful tools to help grow social innovation from the ground up, promote wellbeing and develop community capacity. The team at Quay Research wish to make research and evaluation accessible and affordable, sharing their collective experience with individuals, communities and organisations working for positive change.

Catherine Leyshon

Founder and Chair of Board of Directors. Catherine is a Professor of Human Geography with over 25 years’ experience as a researcher. She has conducted process-based evaluations for NESTA and works extensively on place-based, person-centred projects that seek to grow community capacity, improve wellbeing and empower individuals and communities to develop social innovation from the ground up. She has worked on research projects in partnership with the voluntary sector, local government and the NHS.

Catherine Leyshon

Michael Leyshon

Founder and Finance Director. Michael is an Associate Professor of Social Geography with nearly 30 years’ experience as a researcher. After working for Gloucestershire Constabulary on a range of research and evaluation projects, he moved into higher education where he has conducted projects on youth engagement and wellbeing, healthy aging and the role of the voluntary sector in delivering social value in rural areas.

Michael Leyshon

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Simon Leyshon

Founder and Managing Director. Simon has over 30 years’ experience as an educator and community leader. Simon has 20 years' experience of senior leadership in schools as a School Chaplain, Deputy Head and Headmaster. He has taken the lead on wellbeing, community cohesion, collaborative learning, school improvement, compliance, safeguarding, pastoral care and school ethos. Previously, as a parish priest, he led community volunteer projects. At a national level for the church, he delivered training and INSET on the voluntary sector.

Simon Leyshon

Treacle

Senior Canine Executive. Treacle has nearly 10 years' experience of being a dog. She provides boops and snugs. She has worked as a Pets as Therapy dog, volunteering to bring happiness to university students and people spending time in a residential facility where they worked through their issues with addiction. She likes bacon, pizza and peanuts. She is a very good dog.

Treacle