Stephanie Neave, Chief Executive Officer

Stephanie Neave is an accomplished research leader and experienced strategist, with an extensive research portfolio and proven track record of leading organisations to design, deliver, and use research to improve policy and practice.  As CEO of UKRIO, Stephanie has strategic and operational oversight of the charity’s wide-ranging services and resources to promote good research practice and prevent misconduct. This includes its thought leadership activities to shape the national agenda; practical information, advice and guidance for researchers to implement good practice; and training, conferences, and roundtables to convene and address key issues with and for the research community.

Prior to UKRIO, Stephanie headed research departments for a range of national and global organisations, including the Equality Challenge Unit (now Advance HE), the UK’s then body for equality and diversity in higher education; Engineering UK, a national charity which works on behalf of the engineering community to advance STEM education and skills; and Mission 44, Sir Lewis Hamilton’s international foundation tackling systemic issues within education, employment, and youth empowerment.

Beyond dynamic and strategic leadership experience, Stephanie brings to UKRIO a deep understanding of research methods and practice, having led on a wide range of research relating to equality, education, and skills at both the national and international level, including for the European Commission, Wellcome Trust, and the Royal Society. Her work has been cited in the likes of the Autumn Budget, the National Audit Commission, and the Skills Commission, as well as national media outlets such as the Guardian and BBC.

In tandem with her professional experience, Stephanie has a strong educational background in social research, with a Masters in Social Research Methods from LSE, a B.Sc. in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management, and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. She also holds a Public Policy minor from the Goldman School of Public Policy, Berkeley.