Chris Cuthbert

Chris Cuthbert is a specialist in Early Childhood Development (ECD), child protection, tackling inequalities and leading social change programmes for vulnerable children and families. He is currently based at the Thomas Coram Research Unit at University College London where he is undertaking comparative research looking at systems, strategies and policies for equitable Early Childhood Development in England and Norway.

Chris was previously Global Director of Evidence, Advocacy & Campaigns at the Lumos Foundation, an International NGO founded by children ‘s author JK Rowling, that works to transform child protection systems away from harmful institutions. Chris is a former Head of Strategy and Development at the NSPCC, where he led programmes of research, service design and policy development focussed on early childhood and child neglect. At the NSPCC, he led the successful partnership bid for Blackpool Better Start, a £45m ten-year community-based programme aiming to improve children’s early development. Chris is a former Senior Civil Servant with experience working in the UK Cabinet Office, Social Exclusion Unit, Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, Children & Young People’s Unit and Department of Education.