UKRI Chief of Investment Planning and Strategy
Dan Shah
Hugh Harris and Dan Shah were appointed Chief of Investment Planning and Strategy (jobshare) at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in February 2025. They lead UKRI’s Investment Planning and Strategy (IPS) Group, which works across UKRI, with external stakeholders, and with the UK government to:
- advise on UKRI’s overall investment strategy
- lead on our Spending Review bid and allocations
- create high quality analysis to enable UKRI to make better policy, strategy and funding decisions to maximise impact
- better understand how research system design impacts on sustainability and the implications for the long-term vision for research and development in the UK
- develop our corporate strategy, plans and supporting performance frameworks
- ensure that UKRI operates best practice throughout its secretariat and private office arrangements
- deliver robust and well-evidenced advice to Executive Chairs, the CEO and UKRI’s Board, enabling them to advise Ministers on their biggest strategic investment choices around research and development
Dan acted as interim Chief of IPS from May 2024 to January 2025, after three years as UKRI’s Director of Investment Strategy and System Insight. He has a wealth of experience supporting the research and innovation sector. He served as Director of Research and Policy Insight at the British Council, the UK’s international culture and education organisation. He also served as Director of UKRI’s India office.
Dan’s other previous roles include:
- working in the higher education sector at Universities UK International
- a role with the Russell Group
- working within Research and Innovation Policy and Funding at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, now the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Last updated: 18 June 2025