Lucy Probert (née Madden) has an MA in English Literature from the University of Durham where she studied feminist poetics in Irish poetry. She began debating at school when she participated in the Debating Matters competition 2006-7 where her team won the national finals. Lucy maintained strong links with the competition for some years, mentoring students and judging and chairing debates in local and regional rounds in the North East. With a keen interest in current affairs, Lucy has also edited online student magazine The Bubble, also writing articles on a range of subjects such as the Equality Act 2010, anti-social behaviour and foreign policy.

Lucy worked extensively with The Great Debate, notably on our Schools Programme, co-facilitating school workshops, acting as a judge at the Newcastle University Year of Sustainability school debate event in 2011 and helping to run the day workshop Facing the Future. She also chaired the youth panel of Embracing the Future as part of the launch of Great North Festival in April 2013.

Lucy developing debating materials with sixth form students