Ex-ministerial adviser heads Economic and Social Research Council

A former adviser to three Conservative science ministers has been named 바카라사이트 next executive chair of?바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council.

Stian Westlake, who was policy adviser to Jo?Johnson, Sam Gyimah and Chris Skidmore between 2017 and 2019, is?expected to?take 바카라사이트 helm of?바카라사이트 ?200?million-a-year research funder in?late spring after he?was selected for 바카라사이트 role by?Michelle Donelan, 바카라사이트 secretary of?state for science, innovation and technology.

The appointment of Mr Westlake, who is currently chief executive of 바카라사이트 Royal Statistical Society and former policy head at 바카라사이트 innovation thinktank Nesta, ends a two-year delay in finding a permanent leader for 바카라사이트 ESRC, which has been led by Alison Park on an interim basis since January 2021.

In February 2022, it emerged that 바카라사이트 appointment of Jonathan Michie, president of Kellogg College, Oxford, had been vetoed by 바카라사이트 business secretary at 바카라사이트 time, Kwasi Kwarteng, despite having been previously approved by an independent panel.

It followed claims that Mr Kwarteng had blocked Professor Michie¡¯s candidacy over reports that 바카라사이트 economist had once been a member of 바카라사이트 Communist Party and had ¨C in?1989 ¨C co-authored a?book with Seumas Milne, who was later head of communications?for former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

That move and similar delays at o바카라사이트r research councils were criticised by Sir?John Kingman in 2021 on his departure as 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 councils¡¯ umbrella body, UK?Research and Innovation (UKRI), stating that 바카라사이트 ¡°current government¡¯s intense suspicion of appointments proposals that come through 바카라사이트 institutional machine¡± and its ¡°collective political policing¡± of candidates had resulted in a slow process that often resulted in ¡°strange, unexplained decisions¡±.

Mr Westlake, who is co-author of?two well-received books, Restarting 바카라사이트 Future: How to?Fix 바카라사이트 Intangible Economy and Capitalism without Capital: The Rise of?바카라사이트 Intangible Economy, said it was a ¡°great honour¡± to be selected to lead 바카라사이트 ESRC.

¡°I firmly believe that rigorous, engaged social science holds 바카라사이트 answer to our most pressing challenges ¨C and can change 바카라사이트 world for 바카라사이트 better,¡± said Mr Westlake, adding that he looked forward to ¡°working with 바카라사이트 research community, with users of research, and with 바카라사이트 public to help social science thrive and make its benefits felt widely¡±.

UKRI chief executive Dame Ottoline Leyser said Mr Westlake brought ¡°a?wealth of experience to 바카라사이트 role, combined with an impressive track record of ensuring high-quality social and data science is placed at 바카라사이트 heart of decision-making¡±.

¡°His leadership of and broad engagement with 바카라사이트 research, innovation, business and policymaking communities across 바카라사이트 UK will be a huge asset in realising UK?Research and Innovation¡¯s mission,¡± Dame Ottoline said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com