Jess Steele

I lead the DTA’s consultancy service, the Pool, which draws on the grassroots expertise of DTA members, staff and wider contacts within the movement to provide high-quality consultancy support to a range of clients, particularly in the public sector.

Before joining the DTA, I was the Deputy Chief Executive of the British Urban Regeneration Association, responsible for events and projects, training, awards and sharing best practice.

I have a first class BA in History from the University of York and an MSc in Social Anthropology from London School of Economics. I have published extensively on local history, including ‘Turning the Tide: The History of Everyday Deptford’ and edited 'The Streets of London: The Booth Notebooks'.

My background as a community activist and entrepreneur in South East London included leading the award-winning Get Set for Citizenship SRB programme and establishing numerous social enterprises. I now live in Hastings and am the Treasurer of the Hastings Pier & White Rock Trust.

Areas of policy expertise include community participation, worklessness, the benefits system and welfare reform, local enterprise, and seaside regeneration. I chair the CREATE Consortium in its proposals for a Community Allowance to enable people on benefits to take up community regeneration work opportunities.