The Royal Academy of Engineering has announced the seven latest successful applicants to join its Policy Fellowships programme.
The impactful work of the fellows and alumni to date will be highlighted in a Policy Fellowships Showcase on 21 October, at which policy professionals both in and beyond Whitehall will share how their fellowships have helped them to improve policy and public services and tackle a wide variety of challenges from criminal exploitation of children to decarbonisation of the UK energy system.
The seven new Policy Fellows are:
- Kathryn Barnhill, Cyber Threat Coordination, Home Office
- Gillian Cross, Place-Based Social Justice, Scottish Government
- Sophie George, Deputy Director, Health Protection Systems, Borders and Health Equity Policy, UK Health Security Agency
- Will Gompertz, Innovation Lead, Innovate UK
- Rupali Nahar-Williams, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Data and Evidence for the Modern Slavery Unit, Home Office
- Gareth Tame, Expert Environmental Analyst, Met Office
- Luke Turner, Senior Policy Manager, Department for Transport
Between October 2024 and January 2025, they will have one-to-one meetings with experts, coaching sessions, and group workshops designed to help them make rapid progress on their chosen policy challenges.
They will learn first-hand how engineers solve problems using techniques such as systems thinking, apply this to complex policy questions, and have an opportunity to expand their personal networks with the Academy’s community of innovators and leaders. Collectively over the period of their fellowship, they will meet over 100 leading engineers and interdisciplinary experts handpicked from the Academy’s UK and international networks.
The next round of Policy Fellowships is now open for applications and will close on 18 November. Successful applicants will start in April 2025.
Notes for editors
- The Policy Fellowships programme inspires policymakers to think differently and to use engineering and systems thinking to frame complex and wicked problems, and design resilient solutions. The programme has grown a unique network of policymakers, engineers and other experts who work together to develop fresh insights and approaches to economic, social, and technical problems. Twice a year the Royal Academy of Engineering will select exceptional policymakers to become Policy Fellows. We welcome applications from civil and public servants who have a variety of insights, expertise and backgrounds from across the policy community.
The Policy Fellowships team hosts application support drop-in sessions every Wednesday from 3 pm to 4pm. For more information or to secure a place contact the team at policyfellowships@raeng.org.uk or visit https://www.raeng.org.uk/policyfellowships.