Sharon Ellis

Chief Operations Officer at Queen Mary University of London

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Director of Research Services, Queen Mary University of London
Policy Fellow Alumna, Centre for Science and Policy

Dr Sharon Ellis is the Director of Research Services at Queen Mary University of London. She plays a key role in delivering the University’s strategic research ambitions, leading a team of staff who support high-quality research and ensuring Queen Mary maintains and enhances its competitive position. Working in partnership with Barts Health NHS Trust, Sharon also has responsibility for the Joint Research Office which provides research, governance and trials support for clinical trials and research across both the University’s School of Medicine and Dentistry and the Trust.

Sharon was previously Director of International Science & Innovation within the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). She lead on European Policy related to science and innovation programmes and International relations with other countries. She also was responsible for government policy in relation to the Meteorological Office, National Physical Laboratory, the UK National Academies, as well as sponsoring the UK Space Agency and Intellectual Property Office. These organisations have a combined budget of around £700m that support scientific research and delivery of services to the public and businesses.

Sharon joined the Civil Service in 2001 after having worked 5 years in consultancy. Initially at the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), carrying out a wide variety of policy roles on EU Framework Directives, Common Agricultural Policy and various secondments to Department for Transport and Rural Payment Agency.

Following her time at DEFRA, Sharon joined the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills as Deputy Director for the Research Council and Funding Unit in the Science & Research Directorate, until August 2016. Sharon led the BEIS interests in successfully bringing together the Research Councils, Innovate UK and Research England to form a new organisation, UK Research & Innovation, from 1st April 2018.

Dr Ellis holds a PhD in Climate Change from the University of Birmingham.