Dr Tessa Lynn is a researcher, evaluator and community engagement specialist in community participation, planning and neighbourhood regeneration. She recently completed work on the Nuffield Foundation-funded Just Neighbourhoods? research programme at the University of Reading, exploring participation, power and justice in neighbourhood planning across the UK. Her work explores how communities develop collective agency, navigate power and influence decisions that shape the places they care about. She works with public, voluntary and community organisations to design community research and evaluation that strengthens community influence and organisational learning.