Dr Sarah Longlands is the Chief Executive of the Centre for Local Economies (CLES) based in the UK. CLES is a think and do tank in the UK dedicated to development of local economies and the lead organisation in the UK for community wealth building, Sarah is an expert in regional and local economies with a PhD in Urban Studies from the University of Glasgow. She is an advocate for economic and social justice and the creation of places that enable people to live good lives. Her work is deeply influenced by her experience of growing up in Northern Ireland. Before joining CLES she worked for the Institute of Public Policy Research in the North of England (IPPR North). She began her career working in local government in the North of England.