Perspectives on Engagement and Impact

In an academic landscape where early career researchers are writing papers, chasing deadlines, and worrying about the next funding opportunity, it’s increasingly important to give impact the space it deserves.

Perspectives on Engagement and Impact was that space. In February 2026 the UK Data Service hosted an event focused on giving early career researchers the tools they need to engage with stakeholders.

Here’s an overview of the day:

Finn Dymond-Green, Director of Impact at the UK Data Service, opened the event by explaining why hearing different perspectives is so important.

Finn’s introductory slides

Chimdimma Noelyn Onah

Noelyn, a researcher at King’s Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, opened the session by sharing valuable insights into the stakeholder engagement her team has been undertaking on the UK Gender Equality Index project.

Noelyn’s slides

Tom Pottrill

Tom, a Policy Officer at Resolve Poverty, spoke powerfully about why meaningful, evidence-led research is essential to understanding—and improving—the lived experiences of people facing poverty.

Tom wrote about the event on the Data Impact blog.

Tom’s slides

Rhiannon Williams

Rhiannon, an evaluation analyst at the North West Ambulance Service, followed with reflections on generating impact from within the NHS. She highlighted the importance of effective stakeholder engagement in the health sector, noting that approaches such as coproducing research can be particularly successful.

Rhiannon wrote about the event on the Data Impact blog.

Rhiannon’s slides

Adam Davis

Our lightning keynotes concluded with Adam, a councillor from Swansea, who reminded us that research must be grounded in an understanding of how findings ultimately affect local communities and constituents.

Adam wrote about the event on the Data Impact blog.

Adam’s slides

We introduced our lightning keynote speakers on the Data Impact blog.

Early career researchers also participated in an engaging session led by policy engagement experts CLOSER.

In a Data Impact blog post before the event, CLOSER explained how their workshop would give attendees the knowledge needed to make their research stand out.

CLOSER’s slides

Previous Data Impact Fellows, Esmeralda Bon, Rhiannon Williams, Niels Blom and Natasha Chilman, shared their experiences of being an early career researcher, including examples of the opportunities and challenges they’ve encountered.

We introduced our panellists on the Data Impact blog.

In this interactive Q&A session, early career researchers had the opportunity to meet stakeholders—including the Royal British Legion, North West Ambulance Service, Economic Social Research Council (ESRC) and researchers from Manchester City Council—and ask them questions and hear honest answers in return.

We heard lively conversations on effective engagement techniques, questions on how to submit to committee inquiries and discussions on career opportunities outside of academia, to name just a few.

We introduced our stakeholders on the Data Impact blog.

We encourage you to continue the conversation. The UK Data Service offers a range of services—from training and data access to support with evidencing and promoting impact—and we want you to get involved.

Finn’s session slides

We hope you enjoyed our Perspectives on Engagement and Impact event. This is just a start, we want to encourage and support these conversations to continue.

Have you got an interesting perspective to share? Get in touch with the impact team.