Nottingham’s Jessica Corner to lead Research England

Dame Jessica Corner has been named the next executive chair of Research England.

Dame Jessica, currently pro vice-chancellor for research and knowledge exchange at the University of Nottingham, is expected to join the funder in October. Her appointment is subject to a pre-appointment hearing in front of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee.

She will succeed David Sweeney, who has led Research England since it was incorporated into UK Research and Innovation in 2018. Mr Sweeney, who will retire later this year, had served as director of research and knowledge exchange at the Higher Education Funding Council for England since 2008.

At Research England Dame Jessica will oversee the distribution of more than £2 billion annually in quality-related funding and take on responsibility for the administration of the UK-wide Research Excellence Framework.

A former cancer nurse, Dame Jessica is professor of cancer and supportive care at Nottingham. Previously she was deputy dean for nursing at the Institute of Cancer Research and dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton.

Dame Ottoline Leyser, UKRI’s chief executive, said Dame Jessica’s “experience and expertise will be a huge asset to both Research England and UK Research and Innovation”.

“She brings a wealth of experience from her leadership of research and knowledge exchange at the University of Nottingham, her distinguished research career and her many wider roles across the sector,” Dame Ottoline said.

Dame Jessica, who was made a dame in 2014 for services to healthcare research and education, also serves as the registrar of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, said he looked forward “to working closely with her and the UKRI leadership team to ensure the continued success of the world-leading research carried out by our universities, building on the UK’s reputation as a science superpower”.

Mr Kwarteng added: “I would also like to thank David Sweeney for his tireless work for the research sector as inaugural executive chair of Research England and previously at Hefce. I wish him the very best for his retirement.”

jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com