Fiona is the Head of Public Policy at LSW. She is responsible for leading our policy advice and public affairs work, thereby delivering one of our four key strategic priorities:
“Contribute to major policy solutions by providing independent advice and facilitating knowledge exchange”.

Fiona is also responsible for our Welsh Language policy.

Fiona joined the Society in 2023 from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), where she was responsible for external engagement, especially with national, regional and civic policymakers. During her time in this role, she led a number of initiatives demonstrating advancements made by Arts and Humanities research in key priority policy areas such as climate change, tackling anti-microbial resistance, and developing new technologies. She also led a balanced programme of engagement with Higher Education Institutions, covering every region of the UK and focusing on organisations that had historically been awarded proportionally less funding.

Prior to working at AHRC, Fiona worked in governance and membership engagement at the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World, a UNESCO programme.

She is passionate about Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and has championed EDI in research throughout her career.

Fiona studied French and English at the University of Exeter, going on to complete a Master of Studies in French at Somerville College, Oxford, and a PhD on illustrations of nineteenth-century French poetry at the University of St Andrews.

Fiona is originally from Cardiff, and is resuming her study of Welsh (her fourth language) with weekly lessons at Cardiff University. In her spare time she is an avid choral singer: a former member of the National Youth Choir of Wales, she now sings with the Handful Chamber Choir.

Fiona’s usual working days are Monday – Friday. She can be contacted at fdakin@lsw.wales.ac.uk.