Tim Hughes

Tim is Democracy and Participation Lead at the Open Government Partnership, leading on deepening OGP’s work around strengthening and reimagining democracy through open government and especially through innovative approaches to participation.

Tim is a specialist in citizen participation and democracy, with over a decade of experience of practice, research and capacity building on participatory and deliberative democracy. Prior to joining OGP, he was director of Involve – the UK’s leading public participation civil society organisation – for five years. During this time, he advised national, devolved and local governments across the UK on designing and facilitating effective participatory processes; oversaw, led and facilitated 20+ citizens’ assemblies, juries and panels; wrote guidance and standards for good engagement practice; and, oversaw the development of peer-support networks to develop and support participatory and deliberative democracy.

Before becoming director of Involve, he held other roles at the organisation including Open Government Programme Manager and Senior Researcher. During this time, he led the UK Open Government Network, including through developing two open government action plans with the UK government; worked with multilateral organisations – including the OECD, Council of Europe and Open Government Partnership – to improve the practice of participation and open government globally; and, researched and wrote on topics including public participation, open government and democratic reform.

Tim holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and a BA in Social Policy and Administration, both from the University of Nottingham. He is also a Clore Social Leadership Fellow.