What is your role and what does it involve?
I am a Coordinator for UCL Grand Challenges, which addresses complex issues at global, national, and local levels. We do this through interdisciplinary research, collaboration, education, and innovation, harnessing UCL’s diverse expertise to drive meaningful change.I coordinate two key themes: ’Justice and Equality’ ’Cultural Understanding.’ I support the strategic development and implementation for these themes, working closely with the Grand Challenge Working Groups to inform decisions and activities. I also facilitate new cross-boundary initiatives, such as small grants schemes and major events for academic and public audiences.
As part of UCL’s Strategic Plan, these themes will evolve into ’Inequalities’ and ’Intercultural Communication’ over the next two academic years.
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How long have you been at UCL and what was your previous role?
Since joining UCL in July 2021, I’ve held the role of Personal Assistant to six Vice-Deans across the Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. I supported areas like Research, Advancement, Education, International, Innovation & Enterprise, and EDI. During this time, I led initiatives such as annual funding schemes and a programme of key annual events. I also co-developed the MAPS Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2027.Before UCL, I worked in the Governance team at Age UK.
What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?
Reigniting the work of the 2019 commission "Structurally Unsound" , produced in partnership with UCL Public Policy, UCL Grand Challenges and the Resolution Foundation. To mark the five-year anniversary of the commission’s launch in October 2024, we convened experts from academia, business, policy, and civil society to assess progress in addressing structural inequalities in the UK. This resulted in a Structurally Unsound Five Years on illustrated report , a panel event ’Structurally Unsound: Social Inequalities in the mid-2020s’ and a related podcast. This ongoing collaboration between UCL Public Policy and UCL Grand Challenges continues to drive cross-sector research and action to tackle inequality in the UK.If you want to know more about the project, please visit the UCL Grand Challenges website and watch our video which gives a short overview of the project.
Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list
We recently concluded two funding calls: ’(Un)equal Lives, (Un)equal Outcomes in the UK: Addressing Societal Inequalities’ under the Grand Challenge of Justice & Equality, and ’Decolonising Research Methodologies and Practices at UCL’ , under the Grand Challenge of Cultural Understanding. I am now focused on ensuring the selected projects have the resources they need. A key priority is a collaborative funding scheme between the Grand Challenge of Cultural Understanding and the Climate Crisis themes: ’ Decolonising the Climate Crisis’, which closes on Friday 10 January at 17.00.Looking ahead, we are preparing to launch the new Grand Challenge of Inequalities in the next academic year. Ahead of this, we will be hosting a workshop on Wednesday 21 May from 9:30 - 12:30 at Elvin Hall in the Ioe. This event will provide an opportunity for the UCL community to hear from experts, exchange ideas, and help shape this new theme. We’ll also outline the role of Pro-Vice Provost for the Inequalities theme for those interested in applying when it opens in the Spring.
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What is your favourite album, film and novel?
Book: I recommend ’The Devil in the Marshalsea’ or the broader Thomas Hawkins series by Antonia Hodgson. Recently, as part of a book club, I read ’The Girl Who Smiled Beads’ by Clemantine Wamariya, a powerful memoir of her experience as a childhood refugee from Rwanda - I highly recommend it.Film: I’m currently working through IMDb’s top 250 movies list as a self-imposed ’film education’ for some of the films I haven’t watched. So far, I’ve especially enjoyed Goodfellas.
Album: Born to Die by Lana Del Rey.
What is your favourite joke (pre-watershed)?
I’m terrible at remembering jokes, but thanks to my team, this one stood out:What do you call an alligator that wears a vest? An investigator.
