Maria Boffey

(she/her)

Biography

I am the School Health Research Network (SHRN) Knowledge Exchange and External Affairs Manager. I am responsible for fostering strategic research, policy, and practice relationships with key partners, including Welsh Government, Public Health Wales,  Local Government, and schools across Wales. My primary focus is on advancing SHRN's development through effective Knowledge Exchange, External Affairs, and Communications.

Previously, I was Head of Operations for a UK Third Sector Organisation, leading national improvement programmes that focused on evidence-based practice, safeguarding, and co-production. I played a significant role in developing the Welsh Government's When I Am Ready scheme and The National Fostering Framework. I was also a member of numerous Welsh Government advisory groups. This  role included lobbying the government and creating well-researched policies and position statements to secure funding and drive change for vulnerable children, particularly in education. I have been instrumental in implementing co-production principles in social care, ensuring that children and carers are actively involved in developing and delivering services.

I am a published author in the field of fostering, contributing significantly to the academic and practical understanding of these areas. My publications include Men Who Care (2014), Fostering in a Digital World (2021), and Building Relationships Through Storytelling (2012). I also contributed a chapter to The Fostering Network’s sector-leading publication, Safer Caring: A New Approach (2013), and co-authored a chapter in The Bloomsbury Handbook of Creative Research Methods (2024). I created and served as editor for the The Fostering Network's long-standing Thrive magazine for young people (2006-22), covering all aspects of its developement and publication. I was also was a key contributor to The Skills to Foster ,the UK's leading pre-approval course for foster carers.

I have a proven track record in writing successful funding applications, securing high-value grants by identifying prospects, building solid proposals, and convincing commissioners with expert insights and a strong commitment to organisational goals. I excel in developing and implementing strategic plans, designing pilot work programmes, and establishing processes, delivery, and action plans for development and testing, with a particular focus on regional and national commissioning. Research, learning, and evidence inform all aspects of my work.

I am an integral part of multiple research studies conducted by SHRN, DECIPHer and CASCADE, contributing to advancement of the field of children and young people's mental health and well-being. 

I am committed to co-production principles, where researchers, practitioners and policymakers, and the public work together to ground research in reality and maintain a person-centred perspective.

Since 2009, I have been a School Governor, and Vice Chair, in special, primary and secondary school settings.