Emma Carmel is Professor of Governance and Public Policy. Prof Carmel is a political sociologist who investigates the relationship between statehood and society. Developed through a series of international collaborations, her scholarship has theorised new ways of understanding how policy and politics exert effects on society, in social and labour market policies; migration; and through the use and regulation of digital technologies. She is currently researching the political economy of AI technologies and the future of the liberal state. Professor Carmel has supervised more than 25 doctoral students and sits on the management boards of two inter-disciplinary doctoral training entities, including leading on AI and Public Policy within the UKRI Doctoral Training Centre on Accountable, Responsible and Transparent AI at Bath. Professor Carmel has contributed to IEEE and national technical standards committees and regularly contributes her expertise on governance and AI technologies to policymakers and in the media.
Kirsty Grainger is the Director of Research and Impact Services at the University of Bath.
Kirsty has worked in strategy and funding across the research and innovation sector for over twenty years. Prior to joining the University of Bath, they held senior leadership roles within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), including leading strategy in the careers (doctoral and fellowship) and research culture space and was the inaugural Director of the flagship Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) programme, which aimed to reframe how we support early career researchers across the UK. Earlier in their career, they worked within the Research Councils, including the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), where they focused on data investments and studentships, and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), where they were an Associate Director, leading work on responsive mode funding, as well as studentships and training.
Alongside their experience within research policy and funding, Kirsty is widely recognised for their commitment to mentoring and sponsorship, with a passion for uplifting people and fostering a positive and inclusive work culture.
Professor Guy Poppy was appointed as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the University of Bristol in October 2024. Prior to taking on this role they were interim Executive Chair of BBSRC and the UKRI executive sponsor of food (including agriculture and health) research and innovation.
A biologist by background, Professor Poppy is widely known for their expertise in transforming food systems, both nationally and globally, through themes of human health and sustainability. They have held roles as Head of School for Southampton’s School of Biological Sciences and cross-university directorships focused on interdisciplinary research, and worked across the full breadth of Southampton’s disciplines and relished the variety. Appointed as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Food Standards Agency in 2014, his tenure coincided with the Brexit vote, which he describes as a fascinating time to be involved in national policy. Poppy was later seconded to UKRI to direct a £50m research programme into food systems. His work involved engaging with government departments and major retailers such as ASDA and Sainsbury’s as well as community organisations like food banks. Poppy is a firm believer in the power of local approaches and not relying on national intervention.
Sophie Collet is Executive Director of Research, Enterprise and Innovation at the University of Bristol, where she oversees the Professional Services that support and enable research and innovation. Prior to joining Bristol in March 2025, she was Director of Research and Innovation Services at the University of Bath. Sophie holds a joint honours degree in Psychology and Zoology and a PhD in behavioural ecology from the University of Bristol. She is a member of the Association of Research Managers and Administrators (ARMA) and has been ARMA Deputy Chair since 2024.
Professor Roger Whitaker is Chair of the GW4 Board.
Professor Whitaker took on the post of Pro-Vice Chancellor Research, Innovation & Enterprise as of summer 2022. Prior to this he was Professor of Collective Intelligence at the Cardiff University School of Computer Science and Informatics. His research addresses the intersection of human and machine intelligence, involving interdisciplinary collaboration with psychologists, biologists, sociologists, and engineers to create new capabilities and understanding through computation. This is exemplified through his recent collaborations resulting in new insights on indirect reciprocity and social comparison, the dynamics of prejudice, identity fusion and cognitive dissonance, using agent-based computational approaches and data analysis.
Dr. Astrid Wissenburg, Divisional Director of Research, University of Exeter responsibilities include the delivery of the University Research and Impact Strategy and research income trajectory, including REF preparations and research culture and environment. Her division includes the University of Exeter Doctoral College, Research Services and Technical Strategy & Operations groups.
Astrid has almost 30 years’ experience as a senior leader in various universities (King’s College London, Open University, University of Exeter) and within the research councils (ESRC). Her early career involved appointments at Glasgow University and Leiden University. She is currently an independent member of the UKRI Infrastructure Advisory Committee, and has extensive non-executive past experience, including membership of the Exeter Science Park, and chair of the Careers Research and Advisory Centre (CRAC) Trustee’s Board, the UK’s leading expert in career development for researchers.
Astrid holds Dutch postgraduate degrees in contemporary international history and in IT, and a Master of Public Administration from Warwick Business School. In 2019, she obtained a MSc in Systems Thinking from the Open University.
Professor Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova is Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Impact, and Professor of Mathematics for Healthcare.
Krasimira’s research addresses open questions in Health and Life Sciences by means of mathematical modelling and analysis including advanced data analytics. The ultimate goal is to be able to propose novel applications of mathematics to enable the development of quantitative methods for healthcare and healthcare technologies. She earned her undergraduate and MSc degrees in mathematics at the University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria and her PhD in applied mathematics at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She held postdoctoral fellow positions in the USA and France before moving to the University of Bristol as a Lecturer. She joined the University of Exeter in 2013 and has held a number of leadership roles being the Associate Dean for Global in the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences and the Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Impact in the Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy. As Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Impact), Professor Tsaneva-Atanasova oversees a total research portfolio of over £500 million and leads the research and impact strategy for the University.
