AHRC appointment for Lucy Winskell

Lucy Winskell OBE DL, Northumbria’s Pro-Vice Chancellor of Business and Engagement, has been appointed to the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

The AHRC annually provides £98 million of government funding to support research and postgraduate study on the arts and humanities in universities across the UK. Council members are responsible for the overall strategic direction of the AHRC including its key objectives and targets, and key decisions about the research direction of the AHRC.

Last year, the AHRC named Northumbria and the University of Sunderland as a Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) and the institutions were awarded a £1.2m grant. The funding aims to support post-graduate studentships that are directly engaged with industry.

Lucy said: “I am honoured to have received this prestigious appointment from the AHRC. Arts and Humanities are areas of expertise at Northumbria and we have gained a national reputation for our innovative cultural partnerships which bring together the worlds of arts, business and academia to build on each other’s strengths.”

Lucy has been Pro Vice-Chancellor for Business and Engagement at Northumbria since 2010, where she leads the development of relationships with local government, public bodies, businesses and the professions. The role also involves shaping the University’s contribution to regional, economic and social development.

Minister for Universities and Science Jo Johnson announced Lucy’s appointment, alongside Professor Simon Goldhill from the University of Cambridge and Ms Julia Grant from Impetus Private Equity Foundation.

Chairman of the AHRC Professor Sir Drummond Bone welcomed the appointments: “The AHRC Council is crucial to the success of the organisation, and the appointment of these prominent individuals strengthens our capacity for the future. It is my great pleasure to welcome them, and I hope that they will bring their wide-ranging experience and expertise to bear on our thinking as we work together to drive forward the aims of the AHRC in the coming years.”

Lucy begins her role on September 1.