Meet the Heywood Quarterly Team
Heywood Foundation Chair
Suzanne Heywood
Suzanne started her career in the U.K. Treasury and worked there for several years before joining the private sector. She left the Treasury with a good understanding of the civil service, and a husband: Jeremy Heywood. Over the following years, Jeremy went on to become Cabinet Secretary, working with four different Prime Ministers. When he passed away in 2018, Suzanne set up the Heywood Foundation to promote two of Jeremy‘s passions: innovation and diversity. Heywood Quarterly is the latest addition to the Foundation.
Editor-in-chief
Tim Dickson
Tim is the Heywood Quarterly’s Editor-in-Chief, responsible for reviewing submissions, commissioning and editing articles and setting the overall direction of the publication in line with guidance from the Editorial Board. Tim spent many years as a correspondent with the Financial Times, helped launch three new business magazines in a career in publishing, and was until 2020 London-based Deputy Editor of the McKinsey Quarterly.
Project Leader
Ria Ismail
Ria is our Project Leader and has been working with the Heywood Foundation since late 2023. She manages the Heywood Quarterly’s Working Group, which provides editorial support to the Editor-in-Chief. Her job is to ensure the entire process, from article inception to publication, runs smoothly. Ria is a former Fast Streamer who has been seconded to the private sector, and worked across the Civil Service. Currently, she manages a private office in the Department for Business and Trade.
Editorial Assistant
Blair Cunningham
Blair is the Editorial Assistant, working closely with the Editor-in-Chief and authors to ensure the Heywood Quarterly is always enjoyable and thought-provoking. This involves working with our distinguished yet time-strapped contributors to produce the highest quality content within tight deadlines. He is a Project Delivery Fast Streamer currently working on the Home Office’s eVisa programme.
Secretariat
Isabel May
Bel is the Secretariat for Heywood Quarterly and Heywood Foundation. Her job is to ensure the smooth running of the Heywood Quarterly Editorial Board and the Editorial Working Group, also providing support to the Project Leader on the day-to-day running of the publication. Bel is a Commercial Fast Streamer currently working in the Department for Health and Social Care managing research contracts into the development of AI tools in healthcare.
Marketing and Communications Lead
Mina Astesana
Mina is the Marketing and Communications Lead for Heywood Quarterly. She is responsible for running the Heywood Quarterly’s social media and increasing awareness of the publication among civil servants and the interested general public. Mina is a third-year generalist on the Fast Stream, currently working as an Innovation Adviser in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
Design and Production Lead
Sophie Cliff
Sophie is Design and Production Lead. She works on the development, design, production, printing and distribution of the publication. She is a Project Delivery Fast Streamer, currently working in the Department for Transport. She has worked in various government departments including Welsh Government and Cabinet Office.