Professor Julie Selwyn, CBE

Professor of Education and Adoption, Department of Education, University of Oxford

Julie Selwyn is Professor of Education and Adoption at the Rees Centre, Department of Education, University of Oxford. She is a qualified social worker who worked in residential, child protection, fostering and adoption teams before moving into academia. She is the academic adviser to the National Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board, acts as an expert witness in the family courts, and has advised governments in the US, Canada. Australia, and the Netherlands on legislation, policy and research. She was awarded a CBE for services to adopted children and children in care in 2015.

Julie has authored seven books, 50 peer reviewed journal articles, 12 chapters and completed 40+ research studies. She is currently a special advisor to a House of Lords Select Committee. Her recent work has focused on understanding the subjective wellbeing of children in care and care leavers. Working collaboratively with Coram Voice (a children’s rights charity) online surveys have been completed by more than 15, 000 care experienced young people (age 4 to 25 years) giving a unique insight into their lives and what really matters.