ESRC Strategic Lead for Work, Education and Skills
Michaela O’Connell is Strategic Lead for Work, Education and Skills at the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
Michaela joined ESRC in 2022 as Head of Work, Education and Skills. Here she oversees the development, commissioning and management of research and knowledge exchange investments across the fields of work, management and business studies, education, and skills.
Prior to joining ESRC, Michaela led a number of large-scale programmes within universities, to support under-represented and under-served communities of learners to access and progress in higher education. This required working at the intersection between secondary and tertiary education, and in collaboration with educational charities and local government to bring organisations together to meet the needs of learners.
Michaela has a bachelor’s degree in Anatomy and Human Biology from the University of Liverpool and a master’s in Education, Policy and Society from King’s College London.
Last updated: 4 September 2023