Nirushan Sudarsan

(he/him)

Research

Thesis

Understanding Young People's Participation in Governance

To understand methods of youth participation and agency in governance spaces by:

1. Understanding young people's experiences and challenges in shaping governance.

2. To evaluate the effectiveness of the methods in engaging young people and ensuring their meaningful participation in the governance of their spaces.

3. To understand and address structural barriers that prevent young people’s voices from shaping policy at the governance level, recognising the importance of involving children and young people in decisions that affect their lives and futures.

Biography

I hold an undergraduate degree in Law and Politics, as well as a master’s in Politics and Public Policy from Cardiff University. I have worked in Victim Support, Ofgem and Tenovus Cancer Care. 

Currently, I work with young people and children in Cardiff, working with the Grange Pavilion Youth Forum CIC and Ffair Jobs CIC, both operating as social enterprises to engage, listen, platform and champion young people, fair work and ensuring young people can strategically play a more central role in what happens in the city.

I also sit on the boards of Children in Wales, Cardiff Third Sector Council (C3SC), Grange Pavilion CIO, Cymru Global, Cynnal Cymru, Youth Cymru, TEAM Collective Cymru, HOME4U Cardiff and Asylum Justice. 

Supervisors

Neil Harris

Senior Lecturer in Statutory Planning

Thomas Smith

Reader in Human Geography

Matluba Khan

Senior Lecturer in Urban Design
Co-Director of MA Urban Design