Dr Emma Wakelin to Lead Royal College of Art Research and Innovation

Currently Associate Director of Programmes at the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Dr Wakelin leads the AHRC’s support for arts and humanities researchers’ engagement with the UK creative sector.

Having established design research as a priority area for the AHRC, Dr Wakelin has developed activities and funding calls to build up an AHRC community of design researchers, and leads on a set of initiatives intended to attract the best UK Design researchers to engage more with AHRC initiatives.

Alongside this, she leads a number of key partnerships with business and public sector/policy organisations to extend the range of opportunities for engagement beyond HE for arts and humanities researchers. These range from Microsoft Research and the BBC to Innovate UK and the Design Council. Dr Wakelin has also initiated a number of overseas partnerships, including a reciprocal partnership with National Institute for Design, India.

Dr Emma Wakelin said: “I am thrilled to be taking up this exciting new role at the RCA. I’ve greatly enjoyed my time at the AHRC and the engagement I’ve had with art and design research and innovation funding policy. The RCA directorship will allow me to put that experience to good use in an institution with a world-leading reputation, and I’m looking forward to working alongside colleagues engaged in high-quality research, innovation and practice.”

Dr Paul Thompson, rector of the Royal College of Art said: “I am delighted that that we have been able to secure the services of Dr Emma Wakelin as Director of Research and Innovation. With the recent results of REF2014, the RCA has demonstrated its world-leading position in art and design research and impact, providing the most research intensive community to be found in art and design anywhere. I’m confident that Emma will lead us into an exciting new era and position the College to best exploit the innovative work produced by our academic researchers.”

Professor Naren Barfield, Pro-Rector (Academic) said: "With considerable expertise and experience at the interfaces of policy, funding and university art and design research and knowledge exchange, Emma is ideally placed to lead the RCA’s strategic ambitions in this area in the crucial period ahead.  Her background in research in the creative and performing arts provides perspective and understanding of the RCA’s unique culture, outstanding researchers, and international contribution and I look forward to working together to ensure that research and innovation continues to prosper at the College.”

Professor Mark Llewellyn, Director of Research at the AHRC, said: “Emma has made a huge contribution to the AHRC. From the days of our predecessor organisation the AHRB, Emma has taken the lead in a range of areas including postgraduate funding, support for strategic subjects (particularly modern languages), through to our new models of KE, creative economy funding, business engagement and initiatives in Design. In her ten years as Associate Director in particular, Emma has seen through changes and enhancements to the AHRC’s relationship not only with researchers but also with key stakeholders. We wish her every success in her new role at the Royal College of Art."