Paul Braithwaite is Programme Leader with the Building Change Trust in Northern Ireland, leading their work on Social and Democratic Innovation. Since joining the Trust in 2013 Paul has developed and delivered a number of new initiatives for the Trust using research, grant-making, facilitated dialogue and international learning exchanges to stimulate new collaborations and initiatives around the themes of deliberative democracy and social innovation. These have included a Civic Activism Programme, the NI Open Government Network, Social Innovation NI and the Techies in Residence Programme, as well as emerging new initiatives on Participatory Budgeting and Citizens’ Assemblies. Prior to joining Building Change Trust, Paul’s background was in international development, a subject in which he holds a Masters degree, and he worked for international NGOs for around 10 years including periods based in Pakistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo where he developed and managed programmes with local civil society on themes including civic engagement, participatory governance, gender equality, bonded labour, human rights and disaster preparedness and response.