It was fantastic to hear from newly elected LSW fellow Professor Wendy Larner about her vision for Cardiff University, how the university sits within the industrial and geographical context of Wales, and the challenges facing the university sector as a whole.

We then had some excellent questions from eminent figures in the sector prompting many thought-provoking discussions. The Q&A covered topics such as how the sector can most effectively work with the government on policy developments, the important role of businesses in advocating for universities, and the learnings that can be drawn from Prof Larner’s experiences of the challenges faced by the New Zealand research system.

It was a brilliant opportunity to bring together our fellows alongside other prominent figures from the Welsh Higher Education landscape, and to host the Campaign for Science and Engineering in Wales, supporting their engagement with R&D stakeholders in the devolved nations.