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Danny Burns
Professor at the Institute of Development Studies
Danny Burns is a prominent academic and activist focused on participatory research and social change. He currently serves as a Professor at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at the University of Sussex in the UK.12
Key Roles and Responsibilities
Danny Burns is the Programme Director of CLARISSA (Child Labour Action Research Innovations in Southern and South Eastern Asia), a major initiative funded by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).2 This program, which runs from September 2018 to September 2024, aims to combat child labor through innovative, participatory research methods in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar.2
Academic Background and Expertise
Professor Burns has an extensive academic background:
- He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Geography from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).2
- His research interests include participatory methods, systemic action research, community development, complexity and systems thinking in development, and systemic conflict transformation.1
- He has previously held positions as Professor of Social and Organisational Learning at the University of the West of England (2002-2010) and as a Lecturer and Senior Lecturer at the University of Bristol (1996-2001).2
Research and Publications
Danny Burns is widely published in his field:
- He has authored several key texts, including "Systemic Action Research" (2007) and "Navigating Complexity in International Development" (2015).1
- His work has been cited over 4,000 times according to Google Scholar.3
- He has directed or co-directed more than twenty participatory research projects over the past eight years.1
Professional Experience
Throughout his career, Professor Burns has held various leadership positions:
- He led the Participation, Inclusion and Social Change Cluster at IDS from 2010 to 2019.1
- He has been involved in projects focusing on contemporary slavery, bonded labor, peace-building, and community development in various countries.1
- Prior to his academic career, he served as the Director of the Tenant Participation Advisory Service for Scotland and the Director of the Decentralisation Research and Information Centre.1
Danny Burns is known for his activist approach to social change and his focus on participatory processes that empower marginalized communities.24 His work at IDS and with CLARISSA demonstrates his commitment to addressing complex social issues through innovative research methods and community engagement.
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Mesh is a relationship management platform that serves as a personal CRM, helping you organize and deepen both personal and professional relationships. It functions as a beautiful rolodex and CRM available on iPhone, Mac, Windows, and web, built automatically to help manage your network efficiently. Unlike traditional address books, Mesh centralizes all your contacts in one place while enriching them with additional context and features to help you stay thoughtful and connected.
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Mesh offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Mesh is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Mesh's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Mesh has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Mesh offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Mesh focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Mesh also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
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