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Research Professional Futures at the IRCC26

The RPF team will be participating in the International Research Culture Conference 2026, where they will deliver a plenary panel session and a workshop. Details are provided below:

Plenary Panel

We are all here for the research: Delivering Research Professional Futures Collaboratively

Universities face growing pressure to strengthen and sustain research, making the contributions of research professionals more important than ever. This panel will explore the emerging Research Professional Futures initiative and why it matters now. Drawing on personal experiences and lessons from previous culture change efforts, panellists will discuss how stronger collaboration between academics and research professionals, evidence-informed practice, and meaningful metrics can drive lasting improvement. The session will introduce plans for the first sector-wide professional development framework, pilot activities, and a wider strategic vision, while examining the barriers and perceptions that continue to limit progress and opportunities for transformation.

Chair: Lorna Wilson, Managing Director of Research and Innovation Services, Durham University

Panel members:

Dr Isabella von Holstein - Senior Project Manager, King's College London 

Dr Dan King – Director, Research Consulting

Dr Jess Pilgrim-Brown – Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Oxford

RPF Workshop

Chair: Katie Reynolds and Rika Nair

This interactive session will provide a forum to delve into who Research Professionals (RPs) are and the role they play in shaping positive research cultures. This is a chance for colleagues to help shape our next engagement activities, including our upcoming community of practice.

RPs are a diverse and highly skilled community whose work helps research happen effectively, ethically, securely and with impact. Working across research development, programme management, research strategy, libraries, innovation, partnerships and many other areas, RPs contribute specialist expertise throughout the research lifecycle. Yet despite their significant contribution, RP expertise is often under-recognised and underutilised across the sector.

This is a co-creation workshop where we want to hear from colleagues leading on research culture change at their institutions and to learn from each other what has worked and how progress can be measured to ensure lasting culture change. We will explore how different institutions are currently recognising and supporting Research Professionals and identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration across the wider research ecosystem.

Join us to share insights with peers and to contribute to a growing national conversation about the future of RPs.