CUSPE Alumni Network: Science for Policy & Policy for Science

In this panel discussion between early-career policy makers, hear from Cambridge alumni who have transitioned from their science degrees into work at the science-policy interface.

The panel will include:

Harry Armstrong - Director, Regulatory Policy at Ofwat

Bence Börcsök - Policy Officer at the European Innovation Council

Grace Gottlieb - Head of Research Policy at UCL

James Hynard - Head of Pandemics and High-Consequence Infectious Diseases at Department of Health and Social Care

There will be an opportunity to ask questions to the panelists.

Panelist Biographies:

• Harry Armstrong is the Director for Regulatory Policy at Ofwat, the economic regulator for the water sector in England and Wales. Prior to joining Ofwat he worked closely with regulators in the UK, Canada, EU and Malaysia on novel innovation-friendly approaches to regulation. At Nesta, the UK’s innovation foundation, his work covered a wide range of other areas including foresight, the responsible development and use of AI, nanosatellites, local energy systems, future skills and many others. Harry was the CUSPE Head of Events and Deputy President between 2012-2014, while doing his PhD in Molecular Biology.
• Bence Börcsök is a Policy Officer at the European Innovation Council, where he manages the Greenhouse Gas programme aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of startups. After completing his PhD in Materials Science, Bence started a traineeship at the European Commission and moved into his current role recently.
• Grace Gottlieb is the Head of Research Policy at UCL, where much of her work focuses on promoting transparency and reproducibility in research. She was the External Liaison Officer on the CUSPE Committee in 2013-14, while studying Natural Sciences. She has worked in science and research policy for five years since graduating.
• James Hynard is the Head of Pandemics and High-Consequence Infectious Diseases at Department of Health and Social Care. He works on pandemic preparedness policy at the Department of Health and Social Care, where he previously supported the Chief Medical Officer, working on antimicrobial resistance and the COVID-19 response. He was a CUSPE committee member from 2013 to 2014 whilst researching the interface of science and policy-making for his Masters, and has also worked at Nesta, the Centre for Science and Policy, and the Wellcome Trust.