Natalie joined the Substance team in April 2009 as one of the lead researchers on Substance’s Big Lottery Angling Research programme. She heads the Young People and Angling section of the project, focusing on how participation in angling can be used to combat social exclusion, build young people’s resilience and contribute to wellbeing amongst some of the hardest to reach in society.

Natalie’s principal research interests are in young people and marginalization, with specific expertise in social development, human rights, citizenship and social suffering. She received her PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Sussex, with her research into human rights and young peoples political engagement in 'post-war' Guatemala.

Natalie brings with her knowledge and experience in qualitative fieldwork, with particular emphasis on ethnographic methods and action research.

Prior to joining Substance, Natalie was Convenor, Lecturer and Associate Tutor in both the Anthropology and Development Departments at the University of Sussex.