Celebrating the Winners of the Ben Pattison Prize 2025

Gracie Blackford is a recent Sociology and Social Policy graduate from the University of Stirling. She moved from the United States to the UK in 2021 to undertake her undergraduate degree, which she spent 4 years focusing her studies on social policy for children, young people and care leavers. Throughout her time at university, Gracie also competed in races across Scotland to raise money for charities that support and advocate for young people and families facing multiple adversities. Gracie currently works for a local third sector organisation in Stirling, supporting young people with additional support needs and their families by providing 1:1 home and community support and facilitating group events for young people and families to socialise and have fun.

Chris Harris is the Interim Deputy Chief Strategy and Partnerships Officer for Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, who provide mental health, learning disability and neurodevelopmental services to people living in southeast England. Chris has led Sussex Partnership’s approach to integrating housing solutions within clinical adult mental health care pathways, recognising the importance that good quality accommodation plays upon the outcomes and experiences of people using services. Prior to joining the NHS in 2022, Chris worked for over a decade in Local Authority strategic commissioning, leadership, housing, and homelessness roles across Sussex. Chris is passionate about building partnerships between NHS, Local Authority, and independent sector organisations to create ways for people to live as independently as possible in their communities.  

Qianyu’s research centres on housing, migration, labour market and urban economies. She has a particular interest in the growing role of housing and land in processes of capital accumulation and urbanisation. By connecting institutional structures with individual agency, her work explores how regulatory frameworks shape individuals’ everyday experiences and social relations. Her current project investigates how housing functions as a welfare resource intersects with labour stratification. It explores themes such as local economic growth models, talent attraction, and migrant housing strategies. She also studies the political economy of housing policy, examining the role of property in broader patterns of inequality and wealth distribution. Qianyu takes an interdisciplinary social-scientific approach, drawing on fields including urban studies, institutional economics, and critical political economy. Her doctoral dissertation benefited greatly from the work of Dr. Ben Pattison in housing research.

I recently completed an MPhil in Planning, Growth and Regeneration at the University of Cambridge, graduating with Merit. During the course, I explored urban planning and development issues across a range of international contexts and case studies. Prior to this, I graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Geography from University College London and was named on the Dean’s List for Academic Excellence. As part of my degree, I spent a year abroad at the National University of Singapore which deepened my interest in urban geography and developed my cross-cultural understanding of cities. I now work as a Graduate Engagement Consultant at WSP where I help to shape more inclusive and resilient urban environments, supporting stakeholder engagement and community consultation. 

Congratulations to all the winners and their supervisors!
For more information about the Ben Pattison Prize, visit The Ben Pattison Prize page or contact [email protected].