The Chairs for the four REF 2029 main panels have now been announced, including Professor Jane Falkingham, Vice-President (Engagement and International) and previously our Dean of Social Sciences, who will chair the Social Sciences main panel.
These main panels will provide leadership and guidance to the sub-panels that undertake the REF assessment. The chairs also undertake an ambassadorial role for REF 2029 in the sector. They will work to advise on the development and delivery of the exercise, providing advice to the REF team and Steering Group. They will also play a key role in recruiting and developing the REF main panels and sub-panels, for which applications will be opening soon.
The sector leaders to chair the four, broad REF 2029 main panels will be:
- Main panel A: Medicine, Health and Life Sciences: Professor Louise Kenny, Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool
- Main panel B: Physical Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics: Professor Tom Rodden, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Research & Knowledge Exchange, University of Nottingham
- Main panel C: Social Sciences: Professor Jane Falkingham, VP Engagement and International, University of Southampton
- Main panel D: Arts and Humanities: Professor Greg Walker, Regius Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature, University of Edinburgh
REF Director Rebecca Fairbairn said:
“I am delighted to announce REF 2029 main panel chairs with such broad experience and deep knowledge. They will be of huge value to the REF Team, the REF Steering Group and the sector as we continue to develop the exercise, and I am grateful for their enthusiasm and commitment.”
Professor Jane Falkingham said:
“I am honoured to be invited to act as chair of Main Panel C for the forthcoming REF. The REF is an essential component of our research funding ecosystem, providing vital support for academics to pursue independent research alongside valuable insights into the health of our disciplines. I especially welcome the new emphasis on research culture in REF 2029 and look forward to working with colleagues to deliver a fair, transparent, and robust assessment for all the disciplines within Panel C.”
Professor Mark E. Smith, Vice-Chancellor, said:
“This is a wonderful recognition of Jane’s leadership and standing in this area, and an exciting opportunity for her to apply her knowledge and experience in helping to guide the REF agenda and providing guidance on such a key exercise for the sector. I am delighted Jane has been invited to take up this position and commend her commitment to the HE sector. It is great that she will be taking up this very important role.”