Strategic Advisory Group

The Strategic Advisory Board offers expert guidance to align SPARK’s goals with broader social science research objectives.

Professor Chris Taylor
SPARK Academic Director
TaylorCM@cardiff.ac.uk

Professor Claire Gorrara
AHSS Dean of Research and Innovation
gorrara@cardiff.ac.uk

Professor Ian Diamond
National Statistician of the UK and former VC at Aberdeen University, Chief Executive of ESRC
national.statistician@statistics.gov.uk
natalie.niering@ons.gov.uk

Professor Julia Black
Strategic Director for Innovation at LSE, URKI Board Member, President of the British Academy
j.black@lse.ac.uk
warden@nuffield.ox.ac.uk, claire.bunce@nuffield.ox.ac.uk

Professor John Goddard
Emeritus Professor of Regional Development Studies at Newcastle University
john.goddard@ncl.ac.uk

Professor Gordon Harold
Deputy PVC at the University of Sussex, Member of the ESRC Strategic Advisory Network
gth25@cam.ac.uk

Sally O'Connor
SPARK Director of Operations
Oconnors@cardiff.ac.uk

Usha Ladwa-Thomas
Advisor on Leadership
Usha.Ladwa-Thomas@gov.wales

Professor Conor Gearty
Vice President (Social Sciences), British Academy, and Professor of Human Rights Law, LSE
c.a.gearty@lse.ac.uk

Kirsty Williams
Distinguished Research Fellow, Former Minister of Education and Skills, Welsh Government
kirstywilliamscbe@icloud.com

Peter Waggett
IBM Director of Research
peter_waggett@uk.ibm.com