The University of Liverpool’s Heseltine Institute for Public Policy and Practice has introduced a new leadership team, to build on its impressive track record of public and policy engagement.
Professor Michael Parkinson will continue his involvement under the title of Executive Director, while Professor Rhiannon Corcoran, who has been an influential member of the academic team behind the Heseltine Institute since its inception in 2013, will take the new Academic Director role.
Perfect opportunity
Professor Corcoran said: “I am delighted to be taking on the Academic Directorship of the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy and Practice.
“I regard this as a perfect opportunity to develop the excellent work that the Heseltine Institute has driven over the past two years around the social economy, community well-being and place-making.
“I look forward to working more closely with the team, our fellows and partners in developing ambitious, impactful policy-related research and knowledge exchange.”
The Institute’s focus over the next 12 months will be around three core themes: devolution, social economy and health and wellbeing.
Professor Michael Parkinson said: “The success of our recent The State of Liverpool City Region Report: Making the Most of Devolution underlined the opportunity for the Institute to play a critical role in helping Liverpool City Region benefit from the new agenda.
“All my colleagues in the Institute have a huge amount to contribute to this debate. I am confident we will go from strength to strength.”
The first major event under the new leadership, on 23 May, will feature MPs Damian Green and Graham Stringer, alongside Professor Parkinson and Liverpool Law School’s Dr Mike Gordon, and ask the question; The European Union: Shall We Stay or Shall We Go?
University of Liverpool Vice-Chancellor, Professor Janet Beer will chair the debate, which builds on the Heseltine Institute’s established reputation for taking big questions to public fora, with a high profile panel constituted to offer expert opinion from across the spectrum.
Former Universities Minister, David Willetts MP will follow up the EU debate with a lecture asking; What is a Redbrick University? a week later on 2 June.
Multi-disciplinary
The Heseltine Institute’s core academic cohort will continue to maintain a multi-disciplinary ethos, with Dr Paul Hepburn supporting Professor Parkinson’s lead on city devolution, Dr Alan Southern leading on social economy and Professor Corcoran on health and wellbeing.
The team is supported by cross disciplinary PhD candidate, Julia Zielke and impact fellows, Dr Olivier Sykes and Dr Benito Giordano.
The Institute will focus on developments that begin and end with improvement in people’s lives and livelihoods, an ethos embedded in its current leading role in the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded Community Wellbeing Evidence Programme, for the UK What Works for Wellbeing Centre.
Professor Corcoran added: “At this time of changing governance, we have a chance to work together to make a real difference to people’s lives and livelihoods that will place the Liverpool City and North West regions at the forefront of well-informed, socially sustainable policy-making.”
To find out more about the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy and Practice, please visit https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/heseltine-institute/
You can also follow the Institute on twitter @livuniheseltine
