Policy Impact Unit

Find out more about professional support on the project.

Joe Matthews

As the Head of the PIU, Joe is responsible for overseeing the team’s work, and is the first point of contact for potential new collaborations and projects.

Before joining UCL in Spring 2023, Joe worked in the civil service for a number of years. Most recently he worked at the Department of Health and Social Care, and he has also held roles in the Cabinet Office, Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Education. Joe has worked on a number of policy development and delivery projects in government, and also led work to support the social care workforce during the Covid-19 response.

He has a degree in Classics from Somerville College, University of Oxford.

Jennifer Reed

Jen is a Policy Adviser based in UCL’s Engineering’s Policy Impact Unit, where she works on wide ranging science, technology and engineering policy areas. She is passionate about collaboration between researchers and policy stakeholders, translating detailed evidence in a way that is understandable and can maximise real world impact. Jen works with the ICEC-MCM to ensure its findings can help shape policy debate on the Circular Economy in the UK and beyond, including via the CE-Hub policy cluster.

Jen has previous experience working in Parliament and in the Civil Service, including as a Senior Manager for Strategy and Policy at the Department for Education. She holds a BSC in Politics and International Relations from Brunel University.

Katherine Welch

Katherine Welch is Head of External Engagements and Partnerships. Katherine joined the team in 2017 and is responsible for supporting UCL researchers and academics to connect their work with strategic partners across academia, policy, third sector and professional organisations. She is leading UCL Public Policy's work on climate and net zero as well as Artificial Intelligence. Katherine acts as advisory on public engagement for the ICEC-MCM.

Katherine was previously Deputy Director and Manager of the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources, establishing alongside the Director the Institutes research, teaching and engagement agendas. Prior to joining UCL, Katherine worked in the mining sector as a journalist and editor for global mining publication, Mining Journal.