Investing in research, family and me

Dr Alison Wall Associate Director, Building Leadership EPSRC

Alison Wall

Investing in research My career key steps Learning Balancing You create your own story!

INVESTING IN RESEARCH

Associate Director, Building Leadership

Looking after the strategic plan goal No budget – all influence!

Member of the Leadership Team Line manager in a matrix model

Royal Charter - 2003 (replacing Founding Charter of 1993)

The objects for which the Council is established and incorporated are: 

to promote and support

, by any means,

high-quality basic, strategic and applied research

and related

post-graduate training

in engineering and the physical sciences; 

to advance knowledge and technology (including the promotion and support of the exploitation of research outcomes

), and provide trained scientists and engineers, which meet the needs of users and beneficiaries

thereby contributing to the economic competitiveness of Our United Kingdom and the quality of life

;  in relation to the activities as engaged in by the Council under (i) and (ii) above and in such manner as the Council may see fit: 

to generate public awareness

; 

to communicate research outcomes

; 

to encourage public engagement and dialogue

; 

to disseminate knowledge

; and 

to provide advice

.

KEY FACTS

WHY WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The UK is

first

in the world in terms of research productivity,

second

in the world in terms of research excellence and yet well behind in terms of R&D spend Maths research alone was worth over

£200 billion

to the UK economy in 2010 Engineering is pervasive and highly dynamic, with engineering research underpinning almost every economic sector and contributing an estimated

£280 billion

in GVA to the UK economy in 2011 Physics-based businesses account for more than one million jobs in the UK and contribute

£77 billion

to the UK economy directly (with high-value physics-based manufacturing accounting for 500,000 jobs and £20 billion).

The UK’s ‘upstream’ chemicals industry and downstream’ chemistry using sectors contributed a combined total of

£258 billion

in value added in 2007, equivalent to

21% of UK GDP

, and supported over

6 million

UK jobs

OUR STRATEGY

One vision

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world to research and innovate

Three Strategies

Balancing capability

To maintain the UK’s reputation for excellence and keep it at the heart of global research and innovation

Building leadership

To nurture the next generation of skilled researchers and innovators and provide the knowledge and skills vital to a healthy, sustainable and prosperous society

Accelerating impact

To support more extensive and rapid exploitation of research outcomes

EPSRC AS AN INVESTOR

EPSRC provides national and international leadership while working in close partnership with others UK universities – 33 Framework, Strategic and Corresponding University partnerships Industry – 28 Strategic Partnerships and over 2,800 collaborations Government Departments – BIS, DfT, DH, MoD, DECC Other Research Councils Other Funding Agencies – Innovate UK Other Public Sector organisations – Science Museum, National Gallery

• • •

EPSRC as an Investor

EPSRC looks to build a relationship over time with the people it supports With our investment come responsibilities and expectations Doing the best for the UK research community demands national leadership and occasionally making unpopular decisions

Current challenges

Talented people for the economy Early career support Attracting, developing and retaining top research leaders Diversity

Research Leaders - my observations • Nurture • Network • Influence • Connect others • Practice soft power • Are naïve • Take risks • Have considerate passion • Contribute to the greater good • Team players / individuals

MY CAREER

My career (!)

Imperial College – Geology in the Royal School of Mines PhD and post doc in Mineral Physics High end computing support EPSRC High end computing; facilities and high end computing; Chemistry; Infrastructure and the Environment; Energy Mission programmes, Accelerating Impact, Building Leadership Two periods of maternity leave – three children; stayed in touch and returned to the same roles Secondment to the Energy Technologies Institute

LEARNING

Take learning from everywhere

Pick up bits from all around Key people you meet in your day job and outside Work colleagues Media Family and friends ….

Multidisciplinarity / interdisciplinarity

My PhD – geology, chemistry, physics, materials, computing …..

Learning to handle difficult situations

Shutting a computing service Introducing single panels Shaping capability Accelerating Impact

I can do a different role

Moving Promotions

Picking some issues…

Facility tickets People in chemistry Energy theme Impact Acceleration Accounts

Be brave – ETI secondment

Company environment ETI Board ETI experience with interns

Call that a campaign?

Worked a lot with Amnesty International Campaigning Politics Parliamentary process

Leadership development

New language – emotional intelligence, supporting each other Support from colleagues

What Lesley learnt

Have fun it helps you when things are difficult Have a great support network- Partner Always take the opportunity My network just keeps coming back Never be afraid, respectful but not afraid Help others get on, they will help you get on I like change and being a little on the edge

Lessons from sport

Facilities Lots of raw talent Growing international competition Relentless focus on excellence Talent is not enough, it needs

Sounds familiar?

Training Coaching Nurture and support (inc. getting tough occasionally)

Find your ladders and step over the snakes!

Its more than the research! •Develop your self •Your networks •Your Opportunities •Who do you aspire to be!

Have fun!

BALANCING

My rules for balance

Keep it in perspective – what really matters? (Time with your family and friends) Family time – 6 pm to 10:30 pm Don’t work at weekends – unless late at night!

Holidays – mostly holiday – to take a laptop or not?

We spend time as a family on holidays and weekends Lots of diary juggling – for work and play!

Big white board

Make time for school things now and again – I grab the opportunity if I can

Don’t miss the school play, birthdays etc… Unlike the advert!!

Out and about on a Sunday

Do something hard you need to think about and which involves everyone

My sea kayak …..

More sea kayaking – and back to diversity

Some thoughts…

Enjoy learning new things Look out for learning all around Don’t be afraid to move on Keep it in balance Keep it in perspective Have fun!