Alumni Profile – Dr. Anna Bailie

Research and career:

Current job title:

Youth Engagement and Volunteer Officer at Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire (Sector: Public administration, Education, and Health/Social Care)

Give a brief overview of your current role and responsibilities:

Since April 2024, Youth Engagement and Volunteer Officer – Developing, designing and maintaining high-quality and effective youth engagement activities and coordinating the organisations’ young volunteers (aged 13-25), including recruitment, ongoing support, training, research, report writing and community engagement events.

Describe your journey from your PhD to your current role:

Whilst studying part-time for my PhD, which explored the intersections of neoliberalism, mental health, and youth activism, I was drawn to roles that enabled me to engage directly with young people and put research into practice. In April 2024, I began working as a Youth Engagement and Volunteer Officer, where I design and deliver meaningful engagement activities for young people aged 13–25. This role allows me to apply my academic insights into youth experience, care, and participation through recruitment, training, and community events, while also supporting young volunteers to shape projects and contribute to ongoing research and reporting. My transition reflects a continued commitment to amplifying youth voices and promoting socially engaged, inclusive practice.

In what way did your experience with the WRDTP prepare you for your current career?

The WRDTP provided a strong foundation for my current role by equipping me with advanced research skills, interdisciplinary training, and a commitment to engaged, socially responsive work. Through workshops, placements, and networking opportunities, I developed confidence in community engagement, project coordination, and youth-centred approaches – skills I now use daily as a Youth Engagement and Volunteer Officer. The emphasis on impact, collaboration, and working across academic and non-academic settings helped me bridge the gap between research and practice, and shaped my ability to support and amplify the voices of young people in meaningful ways.

What advice would you give to current or future WRDTP postgraduate researchers?

Consider part-time study if you are someone who thrives in a community-style environment as this really supported me whilst engaging in the PhD which can be quite isolating.