Melanie Knetsch is the Director of the GW4 Alliance. Melanie joined GW4 in November 2025, from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), where she has spent a large part of her career and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience within the research and innovation sector.
Melanie has a proven track record of working with international funding agencies where she developed multiple international co-funding opportunities. She was also the Deputy of Industrial Strategy Challenges – Healthy Ageing and Next Generation Services, and created the conditions for the first ever arts, humanities, and social sciences commercialisation catalyst in the UK.
During her time at UKRI, Melanie was also interim Programme Director of the new R&D Missions Accelerator Programme and was Deputy Director in the UKRI India office and Deputy Director of Innovation and Impact at ESRC.
From September 2023 to April 2025 Melanie co-chaired an OECD Global Expert Group to support research funders and research policy makers on ways to embed citizen science/public engagement into science and research. Melanie is also a Companion of the British Academy of Management.
I provide professional support across the GW4 Directorate, but primarily for the Talent and Skills Team. I also help with the delivery of flagship GW4 programmes such as Crucible and GW4WARD.
Email: g.brown@gw4.ac.uk
As the GW4 Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance (AMR) Coordinator, I contribute to coordinating collaborative AMR research initiatives across the universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter. Drawing on my experience as a researcher at various universities, I earned an MRes in Social Sciences from Bath University and recently completed a PhD in Social Work at the University of Bristol. Prior to joining the GW4 Alliance, I worked for the Bristol Doctoral College as the PGR Hub Assistant.
Email: g.burger@gw4.ac.uk or amr@gw4.ac.uk
I lead the GW4 Health and Wellbeing strategic priority and help facilitate and develop health and wellbeing research and innovation activities across the universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter, and with external stakeholders too.
Antimicrobial resistance (GW4 AMR Alliance), mental health research (GW4 Mental Health Research Network) and health and life sciences (SW Health & Life Sciences cluster development) are major areas of focus.
Email: c.spreadbury@gw4.ac.uk
I manage GW4’s strategic communications, including internal and external comms, social media and the website. I work with colleagues across the alliance, with partners, media and external organisations to raise the visibility and profile of GW4 and communicate the exciting work we do.
Email: n.purdue@gw4.ac.uk or comms@gw4.ac.uk
I lead the GW4 Talent and Skills Programme, which provides sector-leading development opportunities for postgraduate researchers and early career researchers, as well as initiatives that enhance the inclusivity of our research cultures. I draw on long-standing experience in higher education and expertise in learning and development to ensure our innovative programmes meet the needs of their audiences, complement institutional provision, and respond to shifts in the national landscape. Prior to joining GW4, I worked for the University of Bristol Doctoral College as the Postgraduate Researcher Development Adviser after completing a PhD in History at the University of Bristol in 2016.
Email: s.fairchild@gw4.ac.uk
I’m the GW4 Alliance Executive Assistant. This role involves managing the GW4 Alliance Director’s diary, travel and expenses, looking after GW4 Governance activities such as organising meetings and Board papers, and covering a range of other administration tasks for the GW4 Directorate. Prior to joining the GW4 Alliance I worked within several short term administration roles within Professional Services teams across the University of Bristol, through their Temporary Staffing Service and prior to that I held Executive Assistant and Administration posts within the Publishing and Charity sectors, the NHS and Finance.
Email: j.garrett@gw4.ac.uk
Claire is the GW4 Research Culture Officer, leading initiatives to enhance research culture across the GW4 Alliance. She is responsible for delivering the GW4 Re-Culture programme, a cross-institutional initiative designed to empower individuals to lead positive change in their research environments.
Claire brings nearly a decade of experience in research policy with a focus on culture and assessment from her time as a Senior Policy Adviser at Research England. Her work has spanned national and international contexts, with a particular focus on responsible research assessment, including collaborations with the Global Research Council and the Research on Research Institute (RoRI). Her portfolio also included open research, postgraduate researcher wellbeing, and the Research Excellence Framework.
At GW4, Claire’s priorities include supporting the technical workforce through the GW4WARD programme, coordinating Open Research/Research Culture Week, and strengthening technical infrastructure across the Alliance. She works closely with the GW4 Talent and Skills Manager to ensure alignment across people, culture and environment.
Claire is delighted to join GW4 and is committed to fostering inclusive, values-led research cultures where everyone can thrive. She works Monday – Thursday and is contactable via email c.fraser@gw4.ac.uk.
I lead the GW4 strategic research priorities of Sustainable Net Zero and Cyber and Digital, developing collaborative research across the GW4 universities. My work focuses on building partnerships, shaping proposals, and enhancing research capacity. I also oversee the GW4 Building Communities programme, supporting large-scale, high-impact collaborations beyond the scope of any single institution.
Email: k.lidster@gw4.ac.uk
I manage the Building Communities Programme of the GW4 Alliance, which funds academics from Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter Universities to create research communities for collaboration on research projects in any academic area.
Email: s-l.dietz@gw4.ac.uk
I manage GW4’s strategic communications, including internal and external comms, social media and the website. I work with colleagues across the alliance, with partners, media and external organisations to raise the visibility and profile of GW4 and communicate the exciting work we do.
Email: s.moore@gw4.ac.uk or comms@gw4.ac.uk
Emma Barrow (Ph.D) is a GW4 Progamme Manager, and Research Development Associate for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, within the Division of Research, Enterprise and Innovation at the University of Bristol, where she supports grant application development for external bids.
Email: emma.barrow@bristol.ac.uk
“Dr Kate Patten is the GW4 Programme Manager for Cardiff University. She is also a Strategic Project Officer at Cardiff supporting internal funding schemes and internal managed calls, in particular those related to Research Infrastructure.”
Email; GW4@cardiff.ac.uk
“Helen Bell is the GW4 Programme Manager at the University of Exeter. She is also the Research Cluster Lead and Senior Research Development Manager for the Environment, Science and Economy (ESE) Faculty, leading a team of Research Development and Research Finance staff in supporting research project support from application development through to live project management.”
“Dr Kate Charles is the GW4 Programme Manager for the University of Bath, where she is Head of Research Development – leading the team that support increased grant capture through quality bid development, professional development for researchers and supporting the strategic research priorities of the Faculties.”
