Our Projects: Young Advisory Committee
Overview
- The Future of Work - Understanding and articulating the views of young professionals across the city about the changing nature of work, from the rise of hybrid and flexible work to the impact of AI
- Sustainability – Exploring novel approaches to place-based decarbonisation, and supporting networks focusing on net zero and environmental protection in Cambridge
- Housing Tribes – creating new research on the housing affordability challenge in Cambridge, with a focus on the housing needs of young people and the potential of diversifying housing types and tenures to better meet these needs
- Policy - giving members of the Committee with an interest in politics and policy a chance to engage with CA and their wider network on the decisions that will influence the future of the city region
Members of the YAC have the opportunity to also sit on other CA groups to provide their insight into project work and to feed that back into the Committee.
Latest News & Insights
Building Stronger Virtual Teams: Experimental Insights on Social Capital report published
The Cambridge Ahead Young Advisory Committee (YAC) has published its latest report Building Stronger Virtual Teams: Experimental Insights on Social Capital. This report builds on the YAC’s previous research in this area which suggested that young workers are choosing to go into their workplace more often than required by their employer. A potential driver of this behaviour is the social capital offered by the physical workplace and team environment.
Navigating the fast-evolving landscape of work post-pandemic
The Cambridge Ahead Young Advisory Committee (YAC) has been exploring the experiences of younger people working in Cambridge’s ‘knowledge intensive’ sectors since the height of the pandemic. In this blog, members of the YAC explore the results of their latest research and ask: “Is the tide turning on remote and hybrid work?”
Cambridge Ahead appoints new co-chairs to Young Advisor Committee
Cambridge Ahead, the business and academic member organisation dedicated to the sustainable and inclusive growth of the Cambridge city region, is delighted to announce the appointment of Jacqueline Platt and Jason Mellad as co-Chairs of its Young Advisory Committee.
Housing Tribes Vol. 2 Report
Since 2018, the Young Advisory Committee has been conducting research to shine a light on the housing challenges faced by under-35s living and working here. In its second major report, the 'Housing Tribes' group explores new housing types and tenures which could make living here more affordable.
Cambridge Nature Network Project
The Young Advisory Committee is part of the Cambridge Nature Network project with the Wildlife Trust and Cambridge Past, Present and Future. The purpose of the project is to build a vision of an interconnected network of nature parks for the wildlife and people of the growing city of Cambridge.
Young Advisory Committee Co-Chair: Jacqueline Platt, Director, Deloitte
Jacqueline is a Director in Deloitte’s Assurance practice with 10 years of experience across various geographies focussing on the Life Sciences industry. She specialises supporting clients with large financial controls transformation projects and financial and controls audits, serving predominantly multinational groups that operate in a regulated environment (listed on LSE or NASDAQ) as well as fast-growing companies looking to IPO. She has been a member of the CA YAC since it was founded 5 years ago and has been the vice chair to Rob Carter for the last year.
Jacqueline arrived in Cambridge six years ago and lives on the edge of the city and is based in the Deloitte offices at 1 Station Square in CB1.
Being involved with an organisation like CA has been a brilliant catalyst to get to know the city and the people and organisations in it. The opportunity for collaboration, shaping the future and strengthening the dynamic eco system that being involved with CA brings is extremely valuable. Jacqueline said “Stepping into the YAC chair role is a privileged opportunity to lead an exceptional group of motivated individuals who are giving a voice to the next generation in Cambridge; influencing the city we want to inherit in a collaborative, inclusive and sustainable way.”
Young Advisory Committee Co-Chair: Jason Mellad, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Start Codon
(Taking a hiatus until Spring 2025)
Jason is a scientist and entrepreneur, passionate about translating innovative technologies into better patient outcomes.
As CEO and Co-Founder of Start Codon, a UK-based accelerator, he aims to discover the most disruptive life science, BioTech and healthcare founders and help them translate their innovations into successful ventures. This is achieved through a combination of seed funding and a bespoke venture-building programme, which taps into the exceptional resources of the Cambridge cluster as well as the global network and knowledge of Jason and the Start Codon team.
Previously, he was CEO of Cambridge Epigenetix (now Biomodal) and Business Development Manager for Horizon Discovery’s diagnostics division. He also served as an associate for Cambridge Enterprise, the technology transfer office of the University of Cambridge.
Originally from Louisiana, Jason was awarded a Marshall Scholarship to complete his PhD in Medicine at the University of Cambridge (Clare College) after graduating Summa Cum Laude from Tulane University with a BSc in Molecular Biology and Chemistry. He is also a visiting Fellow at Jesus College, Cambridge, and lives in Cambridge with his husband and sons.
Photo credit: StillVision Photography
Project Group Members
- Allia*: Natalie Boyle, Financial Controller
- Aviva Investors*: Josh Robins, Asset Manager / Real Assets
- Barclays Bank*: Liam Witten, Relationship Manager
- Bennett Institute for Public Policy, University of Cambridge*: Lucy Hampton, Research Assistant / Nina Jorden, Research Associate
- Bidwells*: Sebastian Corke, Graduate Residential Development Surveyor
- Birketts*: Josie Beal, Senior Associate
- Brockton Everlast*: Alexander Gunn, Associate
- Cambridge Building Society*: Christy Rattle, Business Development Manager
- First Intuition*: Chloe Mattick, Marketing, PR and Communications Executive
- Howard Group*: Thomas Bewes, Asset Manager
- Jagex*: Maria Miu, Senior Executive Assistant
- The Jockey Club*: Grace Hockenhull, Group Property Surveyor
- Mills and Reeve*: Claudia Habergham, Trainee Solicitor
- Mission Street*: Robin Creighton, Associate - Commercial & Asset Management / Simona Malinova, Associate Director
- Morgan Sindall*: Ella Shuttleworth, Sustainability Manager
- Mott MacDonald*: Finn Mason, Graduate Geological Engineer
- RAND Europe*: Ed Bryan, Research Analyst
- Rapleys*: Charles Alexander, Senior Surveyor
- RG Carter*: Harry Porter, Project Surveyor
- Pigeon Investment Management*: Emma Butler, Graduate Surveyor
- Savills*: Molly Eyles, Senior Surveyor
- SLB*: Sarah Patterson, Data Scientist / Weijia Du, Senior Data Scientist
- St. John's College*: Erin Charles, Deputy Development Director
- TTP Group*: Peter Jackson, Consultant
- University of Cambridge*: Alastair Currie, Public Affairs Co-ordinator
- Wellcome Sanger Institute*: David Nicholson, Policy Advisor / Jessica Lloyd, Management Trainee
*Member/Member Organisation
Cambridge Ahead:
- Dan Thorp, CEO
- Andrew McGowan, Director of Programmes and Partnerships
- Alex Rossiter, Senior Policy Manager
- Emma Pritchard, Policy and Research Officer