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How is CSaP stepping up to meet the growing demand for evidence-informed policy?

9 November 2023

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The growth in demand for CSaP’s services has accelerated as our network has developed and new policy challenges have emerged. In response, we are building capacity, connecting with universities across the UK, and innovating to support sustained engagement, insight and impact.

Strengthening CSaP’s leadership

Our Executive Director, Rob Doubleday, has been joined by Nicola Buckley in a new role as Director of Fellowships and Networks. And a new appointment, Philip Guildford, has recently joined CSaP as Director of Strategy and Operations.

Nicola Buckley has returned to CSaP having spent a year on secondment to the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. Nicola will oversee CSaP’s flagship Policy Fellowship programme and develop CSaP’s UK-wide network of university partners, building on CSaP’s role in the Research England funded CAPE programme.

Philip Guildford has joined the team from the Department of Engineering in the University of Cambridge where he was Chief Operating Officer. Philip combines his experience of academia with his years in industrial R&D and consulting to bring a sharp professional focus to strategy and delivery.

CSaP’s Executive Director, Dr Robert Doubleday says:

“It is imperative that CSaP rises to the current challenge. Building on 15 years of experience, CSaP is now scaling up our contribution to policy making. I’m delighted to welcome Nicola Buckley and Philip Guildford to join CSaP’s leadership team. They bring exactly the right balance of skills, experience and networks to help lead CSaP through this phase of increased ambition.”

Building capacity and services

With continued support from the University of Cambridge, we are recruiting four further team members. These posts will deliver services to researchers at the University of Cambridge: additional training, support with planning policy engagement, the identification of policy engagement opportunities, and the development of CSaP’s thematic areas of policy focus.

Professor Dame Angela McLean, Government Chief Scientific Adviser says:

“CSaP has already demonstrated its value to public policy. The additional support from the University of Cambridge will bring CSaP’s unique approach to a much larger network with even greater responsiveness, quality and efficiency. The timing for this push is helpful given the tremendous appetite for policy innovation. I’ve seen the impact of CSaP’s work at close quarters over many years – I encourage academics and policy makers to engage for the good of research, policy and society.”

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