Desiree is the CEO of TNS BMRB, one of the UK's largest social research agencies. She has more than 20 years’ of international experience in social research. She is an education specialist, having worked as an educational researcher, teacher and teacher trainer in Australia, Canada and the UK. Her expertise is grounded in mixed methods research to inform the development and evaluation of programmes and policy for public sector, private and third sector clients. Her qualitative expertise includes ethnography, behaviour change research and mixed-methods evaluation.

Before being appointed as CEO, Desiree specifically oversaw the qualitative and communications practices at TNS BMRB. These units carry out large-scale evaluations, communications testing, creative development, behavioural insight and behaviour change projects for Whitehall, private and third sector clients. Desiree has led major studies for Public Health England, the Environment Agency, the Department for Education, BIS, the Department of Health, Ofsted, Ofqual, LSIS, Department for Transport, the MOD and the Home Office.

She has led major studies for the Department for Health, the Department for International Development, the Department for Education, the MOD and the Home Office. Desiree joined TNS from EdComs, where she led a research team evaluating behaviour change programmes aimed at young people. She has previously worked for the Institute of Education (Faculty of Policy and Society) where she led work for the Department of Education on adult basic skills, for various NGOs in Canada (education and social policy) and for the University of Queensland (language, culture and social policy provision).

Desiree helped to launch the IoE’s MA Adult Literacy, Language and Numeracy Education, acting as the course leader for 5 years. She is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Bath in statistics. In 2014, Desiree was part of a WPP Faculty for the Lee Kwan School of Public Policy and in 2014-2013 the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford.

Prior to her role at the IoE, Desiree held various NGO roles in Canada (education and social policy) specialising in the development of evaluation metrics, complex qual/quant evaluation designs and providing advice to provincial and national government on evaluation methods. She has also held a senior lecturer role for the University of Queensland (language, culture and social policy provision). She holds an MA in education and social justice from the University of London, a MRes from the University of Queensland and a BA in Linguistics and Psychology from the University of Calgary. Desiree is a member of BERA, the MRS, AQR, SRA and is a RSA fellow.