About us

Mesh Associates offers senior-level consultancy services tailored to our clients' needs, backed by extensive experience.

Dr Lesley Paterson is the Director of the Mesh Associates and has over two decades of experience in knowledge exchange, evaluation, research impact, and funding development. Lesley takes an active role in every project, supported by a team of associates with diverse expertise. Our office is based in Oxfordshire, and we serve clients both nationally and internationally. 

Our registered company name is Lesley Paterson & Associates Ltd (Company number 12194942), and we trade under the name ‘Mesh Associates’. 

Lesley Paterson

About Lesley Paterson, PhD

Lesley is very well-networked with an in-depth knowledge of the Higher Education sector. Notably, she was a joint sub-panel Impact Assessor for the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) and served as the University of Oxford’s inaugural Head of Public Engagement with Research from 2015 to 2021, spearheading a transformative approach to engaged research. Her extensive network and insights from employment and collaborations with national academies and prominent funders enrich her consultancy services. 

Lesley has significant experience in conducting evaluations, facilitating the co-development of strategies and supporting funding programmes, for the research and cultural sectors. 

She has been a member of many high-level committees, funding panels and advisory groups and is currently appointed to the Wellcome Connecting Science Engagement & Society Advisory Board and The Swedish Research Council’s expert panel for the evaluation of research and societal impacts. She is a member of the UK Evaluation Society and an Honorary Research Associate at University College London.

Our ethos and ways of working

We believe that consultancy should be engaging, enriching and stretching – we want you to enjoy working with us. We take the time to get to know our clients and to understand their needs so we can create custom solutions.  

We value healthy working cultures and seek collaborations based on mutual respect, openness to challenge, and active listening.  

We believe that meaningful engagement with broader society, whether this is publics, communities, policy makers, business and industry, can yield numerous benefits for all involved.  

About our associates

Mai Musie, PhD

Public Engagement Specialist & Researcher

David Owen

Engagement & Facilitation

Sarah Hyder-Iqbal, PhD

Science Engagement 

Ellie King

Evaluator & Museums Specialist

Susanne Buck

Researcher & Facilitator

Helen Featherstone, PhD

Engagement & Evaluation

Lucy Shaw

Cultural Entrepreneur

"Mesh were always professional, responsive and approachable, working seamlessly with senior researchers, project managers, professional support teams and external stakeholders."

lesley.ann.paterson@outlook.com
07818 349115

website:  Adrian Lancini Designs

Mai Musie, PhD

Public Engagement Specialist & Researcher  

Mai is humanities researcher and public engagement specialist. Her research explores race and ethnicity in the ancient world. She combines academic rigor with her practical experience to enhance community engagement, outreach and education. Mai has received numerous awards for her impactful public engagement projects; and has experience in the media through her tv and radio appearances. 

David Owen

Engagement & Facilitation 

David excels in drawing together complex information and weaving it into a coherent narrative. His expertise includes engagement, systems thinking, and organisational learning.  David is also an experienced facilitator and has delivered leadership programs to enhance researchers’ outreach and public engagement skills. He has contributed to numerous publications, including the University Partnership Playbook and authored reports including The Engaged University: Turning Words into Action.  

Sarah Hyder Iqbal, PhD

Science Engagement 

Sarah focuses on exploring and creating pathways to build capacity in science engagement in India and developing creative, inclusive, and participatory tools and approaches to enable public and policy engagement with scientific research. She is currently working as a consultant for the Foundation for Advancing Science and Technology and co-leads the public engagement initiative Superheroes Against Superbugs.  

Ellie King

Evaluator & Museums Specialist

Ellie is an evaluator that supports organisations in using data and evidence for decision making and strategic development. She is soon to complete her PhD (University of Warwick/ Oxford University Museum of Natural History) in which she has developed a framework to conceptualise visitor experience and support the evaluation and iterative development of exhibits. 

Susanne Buck

Researcher & Facilitator

Susanne is an experienced researcher and facilitator with two decades experience of learning and engagement. She is Co-Director of Flow Associates, a cultural consultancy who help organisations engage with their audiences in more meaningful ways, from planning, to delivering and evaluating experiences. Susanne works with clients across the arts, museums, heritage, digital, science communication, academic and place-making sectors.  

Helen Featherstone

Engagement & Evaluation 

Helen is an independent consultant who works with universities, research organisations, and academics to lead and embed public engagement with research. She excels in evaluation and supporting CPD and has a particular interest in understanding the ‘public’ in public engagement. In addition to her consultancy role, she is Head of Public Engagement at the University of Bath and is an Associate Lecturer at UWE, Bristol. 

Lucy Shaw

Cultural Entrepreneur

Lucy is the founder and director of Cultural Associates Oxford (CAO). She specialises in strategic leadership, organisational change, workforce diversity, and programmes of inclusive engagement. She has grown CAO into a thriving creative company with an extensive portfolio, undertaking work across the globe with diverse clients. Lucy is also currently the Programme Director for the Saïd Business School’s executive leadership programme.