Who We Are
This year marks thirty years since a small group of modernisers led by Derek Draper, Liam Byrne MP, Paul Richards and Kate Dixon came together with a clear and urgent purpose: to continue changing the Labour Party so that it could once again win power – and retain it – to improve people’s lives.
Over the past three decades, Progress has played a central role in shaping the direction of the Labour Party at some of its most critical moments. We were there in the 1990s, helping to make the case for renewal, reform, and electoral credibility – supporting the transformation that led to Labour’s landslide victories and a generation of progressive government. We were there when winning was not fashionable, arguing relentlessly that power matters, because without it, our values remain aspirations rather than realities.
We were also there during Labour’s most difficult years. When the party turned inward, and when extremism made us an unelectable disgrace, Progress stood firm. We fought Corbynism not out of factionalism, but because of our values of tolerance and decency. The country agreed. That was not an easy fight, but it was a necessary one.
Today, we are proud to support a Labour government again – focused on stability, and national renewal. As ever, our role is not blind loyalty, but constructive support: backing the government to succeed, and govern effectively for working people across the country.
What has always made Progress unique is that we put as much effort into developing people as we do into developing ideas. From our annual conference to training programmes, political weekend to leadership networks, Progress has helped nurture generations of Labour talent. Many members of the Cabinet, hundreds of Labour MPs, and countless councillors, SpAds, parliamentary staff, and organisers are alumni of our programmes.
As we look ahead, the mission remains the same as it was thirty years ago: a Labour Party that wins elections, governs well, and delivers progressive change. That is Progress. And that is why our work is far from finished.
Our Staff
Adam Langleben
Executive Director
Adam was previously Head of Communications at the Jewish Leadership Council and a shadow spokesperson for regeneration as a Labour Councillor in Barnet. He also served as National Secretary of the Jewish Labour Movement and co-led the referral of the Labour Party to the Equality & Human Rights Commission.
Sydney Gregg
Press, Publications and Communications Officer
Deputy Editor of Progress Magazine
Sydney began her career working as a Media and Communications Special Advisor for a Labor Minister in the New South Wales Government. Following this, she moved back to the UK to work for The Labour Party during the General Election as a Campaign Coordinator.
Tom Collinge
Deputy Director
Between 2018 and 2021, Tom was Media and Communications Manager and Policy Manager at the social sector think tank New Philanthropy Capital. Before that, he worked in charity PR, as a freelance journalist, and as a public affairs and events co-ordinator for The New Statesman.
Sofia Aujla-Jones
Policy and Partnerships Officer
Sofia develops policy projects with partners across areas including Industrial Strategy, AI and public services, VAWG, and young people gravitating towards extreme politics.
Roberta Henry
Head of Events & Development
Roberta has also worked with Solace, NHS Providers, the Chartered Institute of Housing and other public sector bodies. Previously Deputy Head of Events at the Local Government Association, responsible for the Annual Conference, National Children and Adult Services Conference and a programme of one-day events.
Board Of Directors
Baroness Kay Carberry
Kay Carberry was appointed to the House of Lords in 2025. She was Assistant General Secretary of the TUC until 2016 and a board member of Transport for London until 2024. She has served on a number of government advisory committees and public bodies, including the Civil Justice Council, the Low Pay Commission and the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
She is currently a director of TU Fund Managers, a trustee of the People’s History Museum and an alternate member of the Takeover Panel.
Kay received a CBE for services to employment relations in 2007. She is an Honorary Fellow of St Hugh’s College, Oxford.
Baroness Mary Goudie
Mary Goudie has been a Labour member of the House of Lords since 1998.
She is an adviser to the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and sits on the Advisory Board of the London School of Economics Centre for Women, Peace and Security, and the Management Board of Gender Action for Peace and Security.
A former Brent councillor, Mary was the National Organiser for the Labour Solidarity Campaign 1981-88.
Lord Roger Liddle
Roger Liddle is a Labour member of the House of Lords. He was a Special Adviser to Tony Blair on European Affairs 1997-04, and to the European Commissioners Peter Mandelson and José Manuel Barroso 2004-07.
Lord Liddle is the UK Trade Envoy to the Andean Region.
A former Co-Chair of Policy Network and Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lancaster, he has served on Oxford City Council, London Borough of Lambeth, and Cumbria County Council.
He is the author of The Europe Dilemma: Britain and the Drama of EU Integration (I. B. Tauris, 2014).
Terry Paul
Terry has been a councillor on the London Borough of Newham since 2010 Between 2018 and 2022 he was the cabinet member for finance and corporate services and has sat on the LGA Resources Board since 2019.
A former party staff member and PR professional with 20 years experience of in financial services and reputation management.
Jane Thomas
A former lecturer at the University of Sheffield, Jane has worked extensively on issues re: electoral and constitutional reform and regional devolution.
A former Head of the England team at Friends of the Earth, she was director of the (anti-Brexit) Brexit Civil Society Alliance and is currently a commissioning editor and editorial board member of Yorkshire Bylines.
Jane is a former member of the NPF and current member of the Yokshire & Humber regional board.
