Leonora Merry is Director of Communications at the Nuffield Trust.
Leonora joined the Nuffield Trust in January 2014 and was Deputy Director of Communications at the Trust between 2014 and 2020. During that time she led on promoting and publicising the think tank’s research work amongst the media, parliamentarians and the wider policy community, overseeing partnerships such as the joint think-tank collaboration for the BBC’s programme for the NHS’s 70th birthday.
Leonora joined the Nuffield Trust from the Westminster think tank the Social Market Foundation (SMF), where she was Head of Media and External Affairs for three years.
At the SMF Leonora worked to significantly raise the profile of the think tank’s work in Westminster and amongst the media, contributing to the SMF being named UK Think Tank of the Year by Prospect Magazine in 2012. Whilst at the SMF Leonora co-founded ‘WonkComms’ a best practice group for communications professionals in think tanks and research organisations.
Prior to the SMF Leonora worked in communications and public affairs in the voluntary sector in Scotland. She has a first class degree in Politics and History from the University of Edinburgh.