These are past events
They are unavailable to book
Overview
Registrations are now closed. If you need any further information, please contact our events team at [email protected]
Chaired by Professor Dame Karen Holford, Vice-Chancellor of Cranfield University, the conference will host Lord Patrick Vallance, Minister of State for Science, as he delivers the opening keynote address, setting out the priorities for the new government.
We’ll also have contributions from a range of other outstanding speakers, including: the Rt Hon David Willetts; Foreign Secretaries of the Royal Society and British Academy, Prof. Alison Noble and Prof. Patrick Haggard; Executive Chair of Research England, Prof Dame Jessica Corner; Chief Scientific Officer at FCDO, Prof Charlotte Watts; and Frances Wood, Director of International at UKRI.
Sessions will explore a number of important issues, such as,
- Is there a tension between international research collaboration for the global good and serving the national interest?
- How do we foster truly equitable partnerships in global R&I?
- What does the future hold for European research collaboration?
- How can universities attract and anchor global talent and investment?
- How do we make the case for investment in international collaboration
This one-day conference is a great way to hear from key leaders across UK research and innovation, and an opportunity to engage with your peers to help shape the future of global research and innovation.
Group bookings
We are offering a group discount for delegates attending from one institution.
Group bookings for UUK/UUKi members:
- For three: £877.5
Not sure if you’re a member? Check the list on our webpage.
Group bookings for Not-for-profit:
- For three: £985.5
Group bookings for Standard:
- For three: £1,147.5
Speakers
Professor Paul Boyle
Vice-Chancellor
Swansea University
Professor Paul Boyle was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University in 2019. Prior to this, he was President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester. Previously, Paul was Chief Executive of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and President of Science Europe, representing over 50 European funding agencies.
Paul is Chair of Universities Wales and a Board Member of Universities UK; Vice-President and Council Member of the European University Association; and Chair of Jisc, a not-for-profit organisation providing digital services and solutions to the UK’s higher and further education sector.
Michael Browne
Chief Executive Officer
Crowdhelix
Michael Browne is a co-founder and CEO at Crowdhelix. He has more than 15 years experience in securing, managing and exploiting large-scale international collaborative projects. Michael has extensive experience in shaping and influencing ERA policy at regional, national and EU levels, and is an expert evaluator for Framework Programme funding.
Professor Dame Jessica Corner
Executive Chair
Research England
Professor Dame Jessica Corner has previously held various positions across the sector as well as positions at NIHR, Macmillan Cancer support and the Institute of Cancer Research, where she was the first nurse to be appointed to a chair at the Institute. Her own research has focussed on supportive and palliative care in cancer and long term-health outcomes after treatment for cancer. She led some of the first clinical trials of nurse-led care in the world.
Dame Jessica was made a DBE in 2014 for services to health care research and education, is an elected Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and of the European Academy.
John Gyapong
Secretary General
African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA)
Professor John Gyapong is the Secretary-General of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), where he brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and a steadfast commitment to advancing research in leading African universities. He was Vice Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (2016-2022); Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development at the University of Ghana (2011-2016); and Adjunct Professor of Global Health at Georgetown University in Washington DC. From 1987-2010 he practiced as a doctor, rising to become the Director of Research and Development of the Ghana Health Service where he was responsible for health systems and implementation research.
Dr Maggy Heintz
Executive Director
UK Collaborative on Development Research
Dr Maggy Heintz is Executive Director of UKCDR, the UK Collaborative on Development Research, an organisation working side-by-side with government departments and research funders to amplify and enhance the UK’s research for international development sector. In her role, she provides high-level engagement, strategic coordination and supports best practice amongst the UK main funders of development research. Maggy feels strongly that research, education and communication are key drivers of change to bridge the gaps between countries, empower communities and achieve the SDGs. She is passionate about meaningful networking and equitable partnership building in international development research to help make a difference.
Professor Dame Karen Holford DBE FREng
Chief Executive & Vice-Chancellor
Cranfield University
Professor Dame Karen Holford, Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor at Cranfield University, has an extensive career in engineering, spanning industry and academia. She started at Rolls-Royce (Aero), later joining AB Electronic Products Ltd., and significantly contributed to projects in both companies. Returning to Cardiff University in 1990, she engaged in impactful research, leading roles, and industry collaborations. Recognized with numerous awards, including a CBE and a Damehood, she has served on various advisory boards and committees, including the UKRI STFC and the Royal Academy of Engineering. In 2023 she took up the role of Chair of the Midlands Innovation University Partnership Board and joined the Board of Universities UK and Renishaw plc.
Professor Andrew Jones
Vice Chancellor & President
Brunel University of London
Andrew Jones, an interdisciplinary social scientist with a background as an economic geographer, has been Vice-Chancellor and President of Brunel University of London since 2022. His research focuses on the global economy, including firms, governing organisations, the activities of key individuals, and service industries in the green economy. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Society of Arts, and has held a wide variety of roles for UKRI, including as a member of REF2014 and REF2021 panels. He is the Research and Innovation Policy Lead for Universities UK.
Professor Alison Noble
Foreign Secretary
The Royal Society
Alison Noble is currently the Oxford University Technikos Professor of Biomedical Engineering, and a Vice President and Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society.
Alison has worked in industry and academia. Her academic research sits at the inter-disciplinary interface of artificial intelligence (computer vision) and healthcare imaging. She has worked with clinical partners in the UK, India, and Africa on translational AI-based imaging science, and successfully commercialised her research via a spinout.
Alison chaired working groups for Royal Society policy reports on "Protecting privacy in practice" (2019), “From privacy to partnership” (2023) and most recently “Science in the age of AI” (2024).
Mari Sundli Tveit
Chief Executive
The Research Council of Norway
Mari Sundli Tveit is Chief Executive of the Research Council of Norway. She has extensive leadership experience and expertise in research and research policy.
Sundli Tveit has previously been rector of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and President of Universities Norway. Sundli Tveit studied nature management at the universities of Tromsø, Bergen, and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, from where she also holds a PhD and became a full professor of landscape architecture in 2013. Sundli Tveit has held a number of positions in the R&D sector, including on the boards of the European University Association and of Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg. She is president of the Governing Board of Science Europe and member of the Global Research Council.
Her previous position as policy director at the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise has also given her substantial insight into the research and innovation needs of business and industry.
Dr Beth Thompson
Chief Strategy Officer
Wellcome Trust
Dr Beth Thompson is Wellcome’s CSO, responsible for the work from the strategy and programme office, government relations, and policy teams.
Leading Wellcome’s global policy work across discovery research, mental health, infectious disease, and climate. Prior to this Beth led UK & EU policy and advocacy activities, including Brexit and research culture.
Beth was awarded an MBE for successfully advocating against amendments to the EU GDPR that would have been severely damaging for research.
Beth holds a PhD from the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge and a degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge.
Lord Patrick Vallance
Minister of State for Science, Research, and Innovation
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Lord Vallance was appointed Minister of State on 5 July. He was previously Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) from April 2018 to April 2023. He was also National Technology Adviser (NTA) and Head of the Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Profession. Lord Vallance is the former chair of the Natural History Museum and former Global president of GSK.
Professor Charlotte Watts
Chief Scientific Adviser and Director for Research and Evidence
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Professor Charlotte Watts is Chief Scientific Adviser and Director for Research and Evidence at the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). She is seconded from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where she is Professor of Social and Mathematical Epidemiology. Charlotte is the most senior scientist in FCDO, with responsibility for providing scientific advice including during the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergencies. She heads the Research and Evidence Directorate, that brings together the FCDO’s expert geopolitical and development advisors, the FCDO’s research and technology development investments, and oversees the UK’s overseas science and innovation diplomatic network.
Rt Hon. Lord David Willetts
President
Resolution Foundation
The Rt Hon Lord Willetts FRS is the President of the Resolution Foundation. He served as the Member of Parliament for Havant (1992-2015), as Minister for Universities and Science (2010-2014) and previously worked at HM Treasury and the No. 10 Policy Unit. He is Chair of the UK Space Agency, Chair of the Foundation for Science and Technology and a visiting Professor at King’s College London. Lord Willetts has written widely on economic and social policy. His book “A University Education” is published by Oxford University Press. A second edition of his book “The Pinch” on fairness between the generations was published in 2019.
Frances Wood
International Director
UKRI
Frances Wood is International Director at UKRI and is responsible for delivering on the UKRI strategy through international collaboration, including directed international funds, promoting UK participation in Horizon Europe and the UKRI Guarantee and the geo-politics of UKRI collaboration.
Frances was previously the Regional Director for the Science and Innovation Network (SIN), covering Europe, Russia, Turkey and Israel based in the British Embassy Berlin. Across her career at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Frances has led teams across a range of policy issues including economics, trade, climate, nuclear non-proliferation and research and innovation.
