Conference overview

Matthew Flinders is Professor of Politics and Founding Director of the Sir Bernard Crick Centre at the University of Sheffield. He is also Vice-President of the Political Studies Association and Chair of the Universities Policy Engagement Network.

Professor Flinders, a former ESRC board member, led the 2020 national review of research leadership – Fit for the Future – and is currently working with UKRI in relation to talent management and research culture investments.

A former special advisor in both the House of Lords and House of Commons, Professor Flinders specialises in theoretically-informed policy-relevant research and is a former ESRC National Impact Champion.

A former winner of the Harrison Prize (2002), the Richard Rose Prize (2004), WJM Mackenzie Prize (2009) and the Sam Aaronovitch Memorial Prize (2012), Professor Flinders is the  author or editor of fourteen books and over 200 peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters.

He has also written and presented a number of documentaries for BBC Radio 4 and is a regular contributor to the Times Higher.

Professor Flinders brings with him a proven track record for building and leading institutions and placing them at the forefront of emerging agendas. What binds Professor Flinders activities together is a passion for driving positive social change by facilitating mobility (of people, knowledge, and talent), synthesising different forms of knowledge and understanding the needs of research-users.