Launch of the Knowledge Broker Academy

The KBA, funded by UCL’s IAA (Impact Acceleration Account) and QR-PSFs (Policy Support Funds), is a pilot programme responding to UCL’s strategic mission to enhance the impact of our research and innovation. It aims to elevate UCL's profile in public policy spaces and foster impactful knowledge exchange, leadership development, and cross-disciplinary network building. 

Participants in the KBA take part in a blended programme, incorporating hands-on learning and opportunities for peer-to-peer learning across a flexible curriculum. We are delighted to welcome ten research and professional services staff from a range of faculties to this year’s programme:  

• Dr Alex Perovic, Associate Professor in Linguistics – UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences 
• Carol Vigurs, Senior Research Fellow,– EPPI-Centre, UCL Social Research Institute 
• Dr Caroline Oliver, Associate Professor in Sociology – Education, Practice & Society, UCL Institution of Education 
• Eva Lamorghese, Senior Global Engagement and Impact Manager – Institute for Global Prosperity Bartlett Faculty for the Built Environment’s Institute for Global Prosperity 
• Dr Igor Tkalec, Assistant Professor (Lecturer) in Social Data Science – Department of Geography and Social Data Institute, UCL Faculty of Social & Historical Sciences 
• Dr Meghna Nag Chowdhuri, Research Fellow – Education, Practice & Society, UCL Institution of Education 
• Miriam Nweze, Faculty Impact Coordinator, Mechanical Engineering – UCL Faculty of Engineering Sciences 
• Dr Sarah Dryhurst, Lecturer in Risk Perception and Risk Communication – Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction (IRDR), UCL Faculty of Mathematical & Physical Sciences 
• Prof Shirli Gilbert, Professor of Modern Jewish History – Department of Hebrew & Jewish Studies, UCL Faculty of Arts & Humanities 
• Siyabonga Ndwandwe, Research Fellow in Health Economics (HERCULES Project) – Research Department for Primary Care and Population Health, UCL Faculty of Population Health Sciences.  

This programme, which initially runs until the end of September 2024, will enable participants to develop policy engagement skills and enhance their capacity for leadership and institutional citizenship. 

If you are undertaking a policy engagement project or activity which may be relevant to the KBA, or are looking for opportunities to collaborate around academic-policy engagement, you are warmly encouraged to contact Sinéad Murphy.