The Global Talent visa external advisory board supports UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in its operation and strategic development of the endorsed funder route of the Global Talent visa. The board provides advice and options on areas related to global mobility, but does not make any binding decisions.
The board:
- provides advice to and develop options for UKRI on the decision to accept or reject new funders under the Global Talent Visa, considering the criteria set by the Home Office in collaboration with UKRI
- considers and advises UKRI on the eligibility criteria for both Global Talent visa endorsed funders and applicants
- provides advice to UKRI on any risks that emerge as the scheme is developed
- provides leadership and information-sharing across the research sector, including raising awareness of Global Talent visa
Board members
The board consists of members from across the research sector, including:
- Global Talent visa (GTV) endorsing bodies
- GTV holders
- hosts of GTV holders
- devolved administrations
- research funders
- research institutes
- trade associations
- the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
The board meets quarterly. It is chaired by Linda Holliday, UKRI Deputy Director, Culture and Environment.
Members are:
- Nicola Capstaff, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
- Shewly Choudhury, Cancer Research UK
- Hugo Clarke, British Academy
- Sofia Collignon, Queen Mary University of London
- Joe Edwards, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
- Omololu Fagunwa, Queen’s University Belfast
- Tom Frostick, Royal Society
- Linda Holliday, UKRI (Chair)
- Neha Issar-Brown, NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board
- Cate Knight, Wellcome Sanger Institute
- Wing-Fu Lai, University of Leeds
- Mark Lee, Department for the Economy Northern Ireland
- Terri Morris, Royal Academy of Engineering
- Rachel Sunderland, Scottish Government
- Mehroosh Tak, Royal Veterinary College
- Ben Weeks, UKRI
Board membership of non-standing members changes every two years and is renewed through an open recruitment process.
Standing members are:
- DSIT as UKRI’s sponsoring department
- other endorsing bodies of the research routes of the GTV: the British Academy, the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering
Ask a question about the board
Email: globalmobility@ukri.org
Last updated: 30 January 2025