Nesta, the innovation charity, has appointed Dr Sarah Cattan as Director of the fairer start team. Sarah will lead Nesta’s mission to narrow the outcome gap for children growing up in disadvantage.

Sarah joins us from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, where she is currently Associate Director in the education and skills team. Her research focuses on the origins of inequality within and across generations and the role that early childhood policy can play to increase the life chances of disadvantaged children. Sarah is principal or co-investigator across more than 12 grant-funded research projects and she is the author of more than 14 publications and working papers. She has worked on evaluations of key early years policies in the UK, including Sure Start and the free entitlement to childcare.

While at the IFS, Sarah also worked as a Teaching Fellow at University College London (UCL). She has a PhD in economics from the University of Chicago. Sarah joins Nesta in September 2023 and will continue to work with the team at the IFS one day a week.

Sarah said: “I’ve spent my professional life researching how to level the playing field for children and young people who grow up with the odds stacked against them. I’m joining Nesta because I’m passionate about its mission to improve the lives of children in the UK through narrowing the outcome gap and tackling inequalities. I can’t wait to get started.”

Ravi Gurumurthy, Chief Executive of Nesta said: “I’m delighted to welcome Sarah to Nesta and the Fairer Start mission. We are fortunate to have on board an economist and researcher with such a stellar reputation. I’m excited to work alongside her and I look forward to the impact she’ll achieve at Nesta.”

About Nesta

We are Nesta, the UK's innovation agency for social good. We design, test and scale solutions to society's biggest problems. Our three missions are to give every child a fair start, help people live healthy lives, and create a sustainable future where the economy works for both people and the planet.

For over 20 years, we have worked to support, encourage and inspire innovation. We work in three roles: as an innovation partner working with frontline organisations to design and test new solutions, as a venture builder supporting new and early stage businesses, and as a system shaper creating the conditions for innovation.

Harnessing the rigour of science and the creativity of design, we work relentlessly to change millions of lives for the better. Find out more at nesta.org.uk