The UKRI Board delegates day-to-day responsibility for the allocation of funds, management of current research investments, and development of policy and strategy to our senior leadership team.
The senior leadership team comprises the Executive Chair, directors and deputy directors:
- Stian Westlake, Executive Chair
- Dr Claire Graves, Chief Operating Officer
- Dr Jen Gold, Executive Director of Research
- Dr James Canton, Programme Director, Industrial Strategy for Financial, Professional and Business Services
- Harry Turnbull-Jones, Director, R&D Missions Accelerator Programme
- Dr Emma Gordon, Director, Dr Emma Gordon, Director, Administrative Data Research UK (ADR UK)
- Joe Cuddeford, Director, Smart Data Research UK
- Beccy Shipman, Deputy Director of Data Strategy and Infrastructure
- Joy Todd, Deputy Director for Research
- Damien Smith, Deputy Director of Research for Economics
- Peter Ethelston, Deputy Director of Governance
- Teresa Griffiths, Deputy Director for Planning, Operations and Grants Delivery
- Dr Lucy Thorne, Deputy Director for Research Talent Development
- Sam McGregor, Deputy Director of Smart Data Research UK
- Rosie French, Deputy Director for Operations & Governance, ADR UK
Last updated: 11 August 2026