NCB welcomes new research director

Thursday 10 September 2009

NCB is delighted to welcome Ivana LaValle as the new director of research, evidence and evaluation at NCB.

LaValle, who takes up the post from 2 November, has been working at the National Centre for Social Research since 1998 as director of the Families and Children Group.

Barbara Hearn, deputy chief executive of NCB, said: "LaValle is a highly competent and experienced researcher with a strong reputation in government and among her peers. Her background focuses on ensuring research is effectively disseminated to policy and practice professionals, and we are delighted she is joining us."

LaValle, a previous colleague of outgoing director Jane Lewis, has a list of publications to her name in the areas of childcare and early years, family support and work-family reconciliation. Lewis leaves NCB to become director of research in practice at Dartington.

LaValle said: "I am delighted to lead NCB's research department, which plays such a key role in ensuring that research is used to improve children's lives. I have always admired NCB for its commitment to putting children at the heart of policy planning and delivery and its range of dissemination activities."