Management & Governance

WISERD is managed and governed by the Executive Group, Steering Group and Advisory Board.

WISERD Executive Group

The WISERD Executive Group comprises the WISERD Director and the WISERD Co-Directors. Other members may be co-opted to the Executive Group. The role of the WISERD Executive Group is to coordinate WISERD’s research and infrastructural programmes; to maintain the connections between WISERD and the participating institutions; and to contribute to the strategic direction and future sustainability of WISERD.

Current members:

• • Rhys Davies, Co-Director, WISERD Cardiff
  • Professor Paul Chaney, Co-Director, WISERD Cardiff
  • Dr Anwen Elias, Co-Director, WISERD Aberystwyth
  • Professor Martina Feilzer, Co-Director, WISERD Bangor
  • Professor Alan Felstead, Co-Director, WISERD Cardiff
  • Professor Gary Higgs, Co-Director, WISERD University of South Wales
  • Dr Matthew Wall, Co-Director, WISERD Swansea University
  • Professor Jean Jenkins, Co-Director, WISERD Cardiff
  • Professor Mitchel Langford, Co-Director, WISERD University of South Wales
  • Dr Robin Mann, Co-Director WISERD Bangor University
  • Professor Nigel O’Leary, Co-Director, WISERD Swansea University
  • Professor Mike Woods, Co-Director, WISERD Aberystwyth
  • Dr Jesse Heley, Co-Director, WISERD Aberystwyth

WISERD Steering Group

The WISERD Steering Group is comprised of colleagues who have strategic responsibility for the delivery of social science research within each of the WISERD partner institutions. The role of the group is to monitor the overall direction of WISERD activities and offer advice on the achievement of its aims. It also plays a key role in the development of strategies to foster sustainability for the institute.

Current members:

• Chair: Professor Claire Gorrara, Dean for Research and Innovation for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor of French Studies
• Professor Jonathan Bradbury, Personal Chair for Politics, Philosophy and International Relations, Swansea University
• Professor Peter Shapely, Head of School of History, Law and Social Sciences, Bangor University
• Professor Martin Steggall, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Student Experience, University of South Wales
• Professor Angela Hatton, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research, Knowledge Exchange and Innovation, Aberystwyth University

WISERD Advisory Board Membership

The role of the WISERD Advisory Group is to advise on WISERD’s academic development and engagement with policy communities, especially in relation to wider developments across the UK and internationally. 

Current members:

• Harriet Barnes, Director of Policy and Funding, Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW)
• Professor David Blackaby, Professor of Economics, Swansea University
• Lyn Cadwallader, Chief Executive of One Voice Wales
• Richard Cox, ESRC Case Officer (Observer)
• Gabriele Durrant, Deputy Director, National Centre of Research Methods
• Hywel Edwards, HEFCW
• Joe Grice, Economics Expert, ONS
• Professor Irene Hardill, Northumbria University
• Professor Richard Harris, Bristol University
• Professor Lydia Morris, University of Essex
• Jonathan Price, Chief Economist, Welsh Government
• Phillip Wales, Chief Executive, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

WISERD International Advisors

• Professor Carlo Borzaga, Professor of Economic Policy, University of Trento
• Professor Jamie Peck, Canada Research Chair in Urban & Regional Political Economy, Distinguished University Scholar, and Professor of Geography, Managing Editor, Environment & Planning A – University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
• Merril Silverstein, Ph.D. Cantor Professor of Aging Studies, Maxwell School, Department of Sociology, Falk College, Department of Human Development and Family Science – Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States