Dr Edge Watchorn

Interim Director, Westminster Abbey Institute

Edge has held a number of executive leadership roles spanning public engagement, strategy, and culture change. Most recently she was Managing Director, Participation at the UK Parliament, where she led an ambitious strategy that significantly increased the reach and impact of Parliament’s public engagement. Over nearly 13 years she led substantial organisational change, leading strategy and business planning for the House of Commons, developing new organisational values and behaviours, and delivering Parliament’s award-winning Education Centre.

Earlier in her career Edge ran a national schools’ programme at the Citizenship Foundation and established a new stakeholder evidence and evaluation function at the General Teaching Council. Her doctorate explored the introduction of citizenship education to the National Curriculum in England, and she recently completed a Pg.Dip. in Philanthropy, Grantmaking and Social Investment.

Edge has a deep-rooted passion for public service. She is former Chair of Trustees at Young Citizens, is an independent Director of UK Community Foundations, and serves as a Magistrate on the North Essex bench. She is a Fellow of the Westminster Abbey Institute and the RSA.