In the first of our new team spotlights, we chat to Alison Clarke from Insights North East who’s part of our new Programmes team. She talks to us about her squiggly career, what she’s working on, and her desert island discs.
I’m a Research Fellow at UPEN Programmes, working on the Practice Area of Focus. This means thinking about how to implement what we already know about the theory and practice of knowledge mobilisation on a national scale, by strengthening the UK’s national brokerage infrastructure and improving coordination across the academic-policy ecosystem
Alison ClarkeInsights North East
What’s your role within UPEN and what do you do?
I’m a Research Fellow at UPEN Programmes, working on the Practice Area of Focus. This means thinking about how to implement what we already know about the theory and practice of knowledge mobilisation on a national scale, by strengthening the UK’s national brokerage infrastructure and improving coordination across the academic-policy ecosystem. We aim to bring together colleagues working across research, policy and government. Ultimately, this should help our decision-makers to feel more confident in developing evidence-informed policies, supported by rigorous, peer-reviewed research from the UK’s excellent HE institutions.
Tell us what you did before UPEN or what you do alongside your UPEN role?
As well as my role at UPEN, I also work on knowledge mobilisation at Insights North East (INE): a regional research-policy unit active across north-east England. Before joining INE in 2023, I’ve worked in university professional services, as an art historian and as an in-house translator – what you might call a ‘squiggly’ career!
What’s your favourite thing about your role?
I really enjoy meeting new people and learning new things – and I get to do both in this role. I love meeting brilliant researchers to get a crash course in their specialist field, before being able to bounce around ideas for policy implementation or introduce them to a fellow enthusiast.
It’s all about bringing creativity and imagination to help join the dots between people, topics and projects.
What has been your career highlight (or highlights) to date?
I’m very proud of achieving my PhD, jointly supervised by the University of Liverpool and London’s National Gallery, which explored the history of art dealing and connoisseurship in the nineteenth century. I got to to dive into archives across Europe and the United States, as well as showcasing my research at international conferences and in my subsequent book ‘Spaces of Connoisseurship’ (shameless plug).
I’ve also loved the opportunity to travel and attend conferences in my INE/UPEN roles – my chance to speak at the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) in Dublin last year was a particular highlight.
What do you think the biggest challenge in academic-policy engagement is at the moment and what can we do about it?
I think both listening and respect are very important. The people who do best at reaching out across organisations and sectors are those who practice ‘confident humility’ – who are happy to share their thoughts and ideas in areas where they are expert, but will also admit where they need help, support and the input of others.
As to what we can do to encourage more of this… Well, talking (and listening) always help!
What’s one small unexpected thing that always brightens your workday?
I recently upcycled an old drawer to sit under my monitor when working from home. Looking at it makes me proud that I took the time to get out the sander and the pot of lovely green paint.
Time for Desert Island Discs! If you were cast away on a desert island, what three songs would you currently take with you and why?
This is hard. How about the first three songs on my Friday playlist? (with a hat-tip to my favourite Seattle radio station, KEXP):
‘Show Me’, Mint Royale
‘Pool Party’, Rudy Willingham
‘Rocket Fuel’, DJ Shadow feat. De La Soul”
Give us a plug for something you’re doing at work at the moment
Having presented at the International Public Policy Association workshop in Guadalajara last year with my colleague Pete McCue from Sydney, we’ve been invited to submit a chapter to a forthcoming book on ‘The Meaning and Use of Public Policy Knowledge in Practice’. It still needs a bit of polishing but I’m really excited that it’s starting to come together. Looking forward to see it out in the wild soon!
