Dr Shirley Woods-Gallagher is Assistant Director of Education (SEND) in Education and Early Years at Oldham Council.

She is also a member of the What Works Centre for Wellbeing steering group, a research consultant for the Tavistock Centre for Couple Relations, a consultant to Reimagining Undergraduate Health & Social Care led by the four HEIs in Greater Manchester, and an advisor to the newly formed Centre for Future Economies post-Brexit led by Manchester Metropolitan University.

Shirley Woods-Gallagher likes children and thinks every child has a right to the best childhood possible. She also believes children don’t live in isolation; they live in families and communities, so all responses need to be systemic to achieve true change. She is motivated by the ambition of wanting to bring research, policy and practice together. She is particularly interested in implementation science.

She has a doctorate in political science and is a former academic and parliamentary researcher. She has worked in local government for over 18 years and has substantial experience in public services commissioning and delivery for both children and adults. During this time she has also lectured on reform to students in the fields of politics, economics, social work, health visiting, early years, public administration and health and social care.