Biography
Michael Soper currently leads the Research & Performance Team at Cambridgeshire County Council. He has responsibility for leading a broad portfolio of research undertaken on behalf of the County Council and a range of other local and eastern region clients including district councils, unitary authorities and public sector partnership bodies. The approach the team takes is straightforward; the work produced is timely, well-presented and of excellent quality. Working at the heart of local government, demonstrating how an evidence-based approach makes a real difference to public policy and the services the people receive.
Michael graduated with a BSc in Human Geography from Reading University in 1994. He has worked within a number of local authorities since including Hertfordshire County Council and Hull City Council before joining Cambridgeshire County Council over ten years ago.
Through his career he has developed particular research knowledge in the fields of crime analysis; victimisation and offending; mapping; consultation and public engagement; management of research and project evaluation. Michael is particularly strong on effectively influencing policy development using the findings of research.
Michael takes a strong interest in the development of the research profession in local government serving for many years as a council member for LARIA (Local Authorities Research & Intelligence Association).
