Research and innovation conference 2026

Professor Dame Jessica Corner is Executive Chair, Research England, part of UK Research and Innovation. Previously she was: 

• Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research and Knowledge Exchange, University of Nottingham 
• Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton 
• Director, National Institute for Health Research Wessex CLARHC 
• Executive Director, Improving Cancer Services for charity Macmillan Cancer support   

Jessica held academic positions at King’s College London and the Institute of Cancer Research, London. Her own research focussed on supportive and palliative care in cancer and long term-health outcomes after treatment for cancer.
 
She was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) in 2014, elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2015, and elected Fellow of the European Academy in 2019. In 2018, when the UK NHS turned 70, she was named as one of the most influential nurses in its history.

I joined Universities UK in January 2025, where I lead our efforts to influence policy on research and development (R&D) on behalf of UUK’s member universities across the country.

With a background in policy development since 2015, I have held roles in medical research charities and National Academies. Prior to UUK, I worked at the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and the Academy of Medical Sciences. I hold a doctorate in biochemistry from Imperial College London.

I enjoy the dynamic and multifaceted nature of my work at UUK, particularly the opportunity to collaborate with expert colleagues and members to address key policy challenges.

I lead the Transformation and Efficiency programme, including developing resources, putting on events and working with Policy Group colleagues to push for funding and regulatory change to support university transformation.

I have worked at Universities UK for 10 years, mostly on European engagement and international research funding. I spent two years on secondment to DSIT and returned to UUK in late 2025 in my current role. I previously worked at HEFCE, the European University Association in Brussels, Equality Challenge Unit (now AdvanceHE) and the University of Sheffield. I have a BA in modern languages from the University of Sheffield and a master’s in European Studies from the College of Europe.

I love playing a role in creating impact at scale that helps universities to flourish. The campaign to secure Horizon Europe association that I led shows the type of change UUK can help drive.

Michael Moore is Chief Executive of UK Private Capital.

Michael and his colleagues are focused on supporting the development of the private capital industry, as it invests in thousands of businesses and supports millions of jobs across the UK. As policymakers work on the competitiveness of the UK’s investment climate, Michael is confident that private equity and venture capital will continue to create significant public value through investment in growth, innovation and people.

Over the past 30 years Michael has operated at senior levels in both politics and business. In his political career he served in the Cabinet at the time of the Coalition Government, as Secretary of State for Scotland. He was a Member of Parliament for 18 years.

After the 2015 General Election, Michael became a Senior Advisor at PwC. Prior to entering politics, he qualified as a chartered accountant with the firm.

Peter leads the Yorkshire Universities’ (YU) Executive Team, and he is Company Secretary for the Limited Company and Charity. With over two decades’ experience, as both a senior practitioner and academic, Peter has driven YU’s increasing and influential policy engagement and activity in Yorkshire. He has worked extensively at a senior level across the north of England, and he has published widely on a range of matters relating to local and regional development. Peter is a Commissioner on the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission, he also represents YU and the higher education sector on many high-level regional groups and committees.

Richard Watermeyer is Professor of Higher Education and Co-Director of the Centre for Higher Education Transformations (CHET) at the University of Bristol.

Jane sits on the University Executive Board and leads the Engagement & Place Strategy, focussing on building partnerships to enhance the societal benefit of the university. She is also executive lead for sustainability and social justice. Previously, Jane was Durham University’s Chief Operating Officer with strategic oversight of operations and external engagement. Before taking up her position at Durham, Jane was Chief Executive of Gateshead Council, playing a central role in the culture-led regeneration of the borough. Jane has also held leadership positions in the cultural sector, including Director of External Relations at Arts Council England, demonstrating extensive leadership experience.

Helen Turner is Director of Midlands Innovation, a partnership of eight research intensive Midlands universities. A materials scientist by background, she leads major collaborative programmes including Forging Ahead and AI.RDN+, and has driven initiatives such as Midlands Mindforge, strengthening skills, investment and innovation capacity to support regional growth and global competitiveness.
 

James is one of the founders of RoRI and has been its director since 2019. He is also Professor of Research Policy at University College London (UCL), based in its Department of Science, Technology, Engineering & Public Policy (STEaPP). Since the late-1990s, as a researcher, writer, adviser and campaigner, James has worked at the heart of science and research policy in the UK and internationally. In addition to academic posts at the universities of Sheffield, Sussex and Lancaster, he has worked in think tanks, NGOs and as director of science policy for the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of sciences.

In his work, James has advanced concepts such as upstream public engagement, science diplomacy, responsible metrics and responsible research assessment; and he has co-founded or chaired initiatives such as People & Planet; the Campaign for Social Science; International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA); UK Forum for Responsible Research Metrics; and the Research on Research Institute (RoRI).

In 2014, James was asked to chair an independent UK government review of research metrics, published as The Metric Tide. He subsequently chaired a European Commission expert group on Next Generation Metrics, and in 2022, revisited these debates with colleagues in Harnessing the Metric Tide.

In 2015, he was elected a Fellow of the UK’s Academy of Social Sciences, and in 2022, of the International Science Council.

I lead on our policy work on innovation, knowledge exchange, research commercialisation, local growth and enterprise by researching evidence, developing proposals, engaging with members and lobbying officials.

I worked in a university for seven years on quality assurance and teaching and learning and in GuildHE for five years working on human resource, leadership and management and quality issues. I studied combined social sciences at university.

I enjoy working in a sector that is full of intelligent, supportive and committed individuals who genuinely want to support students and achieve great things. I especially like working on collaborative projects that bring together universities and other partners such as employers and charities that enhance the impact and value of what universities do.