Dan is an expert in the field of youth participation, with nearly 20 years experience working with children, young people and families in both the voluntary, public and for-profit sectors. He has led work on behalf of UK Youth Parliament, The British Council, The EU-CoE Youth Partnership, The Council of Europe, The European Patient Forum and wide variety of municipalities, NGOS, public bodies and research institutions. Dan is currently the Director of People Dialogue and Change, and an Associate Director at the University of Central Lancashire’s Centre for Children and Young People’s Participation in Research. Dan specialises in providing consultancy and capacity building services in the youth and community sector, as well as short term specialist roles for organisations developing new initiatives and programmes.
Bjorg Agustdottir - Marketing and Business Director
Bjorg has a background in PR, marketing and business development. Having moved from Iceland to the UK she spent the early part of her career working with JCI Island in Reykajvik. Bjorg now brings her expertise to PDC where she is responsible for business development and marketing. She speaks four languages and is also a highly talented photographer.
Tony has over 30 years’ experience in government, and is highly skilled in policy design and implementation, with an acknowledged ability to translate policy into frontline delivery. Prior to his current role as a consultant Tony was Head of Youth Policy at Government Office for the North West for nearly 10 years and has a successful background in managing projects, reviewing performance, and trouble-shooting delivery problems. With extensive experience in working with multiple stakeholders, including national bodies - DfE, Ofsted, C4EO, and YJB, Tony has commissioned and managed many major programmes including Connexions and Positive Activities for Young People, undertaken policy development on IAG, youth work, and youth offending. Tony is now Chair of the North West Regional Youth Work Unit, and works independently as a consultant.
Dave Packwood - Associate
Dave has been involved in working with children and young people for the last 20 years, working within high performing youth services and voluntary sector youth organisations. Dave left full time employment as Chief Executive of Youth Federation a regional Youth Association and registered charity after 11 very successful years, to set up Dave Packwood Consulting. This followed his development of Youth Federation from a small charity employing 4 staff and a turnover of £110,000 to a well respected and high profile regional organisation employing 36 staff and a turnover of over £1.2 Million. Dave also completed secondments within Cheshire, Youth Service, Government Office North West and as an Additional Youth Work Inspector for OFSTED undertaking 6 Enhanced Youth Inspections and Joint Area Reviews and has qualifications in Youth Work and a Masters degree in Management.
Liz Harding - Associate
Evaldas Rupkus - AssociateEvaldas started his work in the youth sector as president of regional youth council in Lithuania, continued as Eurodesk programme coordinator at the Lithuanian Youth Council and member of the European executive committee of the European youth mobility information network. Initiator of generalist youth information and counselling system in Lithuania, consultant and author for European Youth Information and Counselling Agency (ERYICA). He spent a number of years based at the International Youth Service of the Federal Republic of Germany where he was responsible for planning and coordination of commendation work, and outreach to young people through social and broad forms of media. He has just finished managing marketing of the “EUth – Tools and Tips for Mobile and Digital Youth Participation in and across Europe” (opin.me; financed by Horizon 2020). Evaldas has also co-developed and delivered eParticipation training courses for initiators and is active in digitalisation of the youth sector.
Corina is a professional and activist in the youth sector, dedicated to shaping communities where young people are fully empowered to participate as equal partners decision-making and have the opportunity to reach their full potential. She has a vast experience in working with a complexity of public policies and program management in youth sector, from local to international level. Over the past 14 years, she has volunteered and worked with very diverse youth-led and youth-focused organisations: from local and national youth council in Romania to European and international youth networks. In advancing her passion for youth participation, Corina is a co-founder of the Think-Tank & Resource Centre ‘Social DOers’ and an IREX Fellow (US Dept. State funded) since 2015, when she worked with Chicago Votes on voter registration and education of young people. She is a strong believer in encouraging young people to take over the spaces where decisions can be influenced and adapting the policies and institutions to the new trends.
Ed has over 10 years experience working across the public, charity, co-operative and private sectors developing the way organisations work with people to deliver results and make a bigger impact for stakeholders. Ed also lives on a narrowboat and travels around Greater Manchester, giving a different view every week and the flexibility to choose where to be. Ed works with People Dialogue and Change providing facilitation and training support, particularly around our work with the patient advocacy community.