Research Impact
Impact – the provable benefits of research beyond academia – is an increasingly weighted component of the research landscape both within the UK and internationally, and has a growing community of practice. With impact so important to national assessments, competitive funding, and longer standing applied research agendas, research managers have a significant role to play in impact planning and delivery. The Impact SIG focuses on developing skills and strengthening the research management of impact both for REF and for impact more broadly. It encompasses a broad range of professionals working in areas such as funding, public engagement, communications, information management and those focused on REF impact at all career levels. The Impact SIG focuses on connecting peers to share good practice and drive impact-related professional development.
Champions:
Our Special Interest Group champions are responsible for the activity and resource base of the group.
Anne Jolly REF Impact Manager, Durham University
Dr Anne Jolly is REF Impact Manager at Durham University, having previously held scientific roles as a physical oceanographer with NERC, Infoterra and the Met Office, then in Data Protection at Lincolnshire Police and the University of Lincoln, where she moved into the research impact field. Anne is based in the central Research and Innovation Services, working institution-wide to support Durham’s REF impact submission, and also works alongside a team of impact managers in promoting engagement and impact development within a healthy research culture.
Charlotte Holloway Head of Research Impact, University of Hertfordshire
With 11 years’ experience working on Impact over two REF exercises, Charlotte is currently Head of Research Impact at the University of Hertfordshire. She leads a team supporting all aspects of impact, including training, funding, bid development, Impact Acceleration Accounts, REF preparations and impact strategy. Prior to joining Hertfordshire she worked at UCL (on impact), Imperial (organising CPD courses in the Middle East) and in the Public Health department of an NHS trust.
Hollie Johnson Senior Manager for Research Impact & Knowledge Exchange, The Open University
Hollie is currently the Senior Manager for Research Impact & Knowledge Exchange (KE) at the Open University where she enjoys supporting its vibrant, interdisciplinary and challenge-led research culture. In addition to leading the KE and Impact team, Hollie works with Impact managers across the University to support the development of impactful research. This work has included developing and delivering training to improve impact literacy, co-developing ethical review process for impact, creating guidance on topics such as evidencing impact, and co-chairing an institutional Community of Practice designed to share and promote best practice amongst KE and Impact professionals.
Having previously supported REF2021 Impact submissions at the University of Nottingham’s Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences and The Open University’s Faculty of Business and Law, Hollie now provides strategic and operational leadership for the delivery of the OU’s REF2029 submission across 21 Units of Assessment. She is enthusiastic about empowering academics and research-support staff to create positive change through research.
Saskia Gent, Director, Insights for Impact
Saskia has nearly two decades experience in all aspects of research impact. Having started her impact life on a migration and development project, she set up and ran the impact office at the University of Sussex. She led the Sussex impact submission to REF 2014, as well as managing a series of internal and external impact funds. Since creating the consultancy Insights for Impact in 2016, Saskia has supported numerous organisations, departments, and projects across the UK and elsewhere. She designs her interventions to enable researchers to set and achieve their impact goals, with a particular focus on using coaching-led approaches.
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