Topic Hub: Conference

About a year ago, I moved from my position as a Postdoctoral Researcher into a Knowledge Exchange (KE) role at the Royal Veterinary College in London, working with Prof Lucy Davison’s group. This is a newly piloted and somewhat pioneering role, developed collaboratively by the RVC’s Knowledge Exchange and Commercialisation Office and the Research and Innovation Office, embedding a KE officer directly within a research group.

Translating Research into Real-World Impact

In this position, I focus on translating research in disease biology, genetics, and physiology into real-world impact. With over 20 years of experience studying disease mechanisms across both human and animal systems, I now apply this expertise in a different way, identifying opportunities for our research to extend beyond academia and building connections with industry, clinicians, and policymakers. My work involves shaping research into ideas that resonate with non-academic audiences, supporting early conversations with potential partners, and contributing to funding applications with clearly defined impact pathways.

Finding My Place in the Wider KE Community

As I’ve transitioned into KE, I’ve become increasingly aware of the importance of understanding how KE operates across the UK and of finding effective ways to connect research with those who can take it further. Attending the KEUK Conference for the first time was invaluable in supporting this journey, giving me the opportunity to build a network beyond my institution and connect with peers, industry partners, and organisations across multiple sectors. This has significantly strengthened my ability to support impactful KE activities. At this early stage in my KE career, having access to a national forum like KEUK, made possible through the KE bursary scheme, has been particularly important in building both my perspective and confidence within the KE community.

A Conference Full of Energy, Insight and Practical Value

One of the highlights of the KEUK Conference 2026 was the strong sense of community combined with a clear, forward-looking vision for Knowledge Exchange. From the welcome reception onwards, the atmosphere was energetic and collaborative, bringing together people from academia, industry, KE, and funding bodies in a way that encouraged open and purposeful conversations. This was reinforced by the opening plenary, which set an ambitious tone around research and innovation driving national growth, alongside practical insights into new UKRI priorities and funding opportunities. What stood out most was the balance between big-picture strategy and hands-on sessions – covering topics such as career development, industry engagement, AI tools, and partnership mechanisms like consultancy and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships – offering both inspiration and practical takeaways.

Leaving with Confidence, Connections and New Ideas

Overall, the conference was a very valuable experience for me. Going in, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but it proved to be both motivating and highly relevant to where I am in my KE journey. It created a space where big-picture strategic thinking and the realities of day-to-day KE practice came together in a way that felt directly applicable to my role. I came away not only with new ideas and connections, but also with greater confidence in how I approach KE and where I fit within the wider community. I would highly recommend the conference to anyone working in, or considering moving into, KE – especially those at an early stage, like me, who are still shaping their understanding of the field.

Dr Natascia Vedovato
Postdoctoral Research, Royal Veterinary College

Before I worked in researcher development, research culture and knowledge exchange capacity-building, I was a researcher in social innovation and impact. Even then, I was fascinated by a deceptively simple question: what creates meaningful impact?

At the time, I explored how organisations, communities, and systems respond to complex societal challenges. What struck me then, and what continues to shape my thinking today, is that transformative change emerges from ecosystems: people, relationships, resources, trust, shared purpose, and the conditions that enable innovation to flourish.

Attending the Knowledge Exchange UK Conference 2026 prompted me to revisit this conviction.

Meaningful Impact Begins Long Before Impact Happens Because KE is a People Profession

Today, my focus at the University of Liverpool includes KE and research impact capacity-building via a flagship central programme that I established in 2018, shortlisted for PraxisAuril’s Academic Engagement of the Year in 2021. I work with researchers, professional services colleagues, external partners and communities to strengthen the skills, confidence, networks and cultures that underpin effective knowledge exchange and research impact.

Yet despite working in this space for many years, the KEUK Conference 2026 prompted me to muse on something fundamental: KE is often discussed in terms of outputs: partnerships formed, innovations commercialised, policies influenced, businesses supported, communities engaged. However, what I heard repeatedly throughout the conference was that successful KE begins much earlier – because it begins with people.

Session after session reinforced the importance of capability, relationships, trust, collaboration and leadership. Whether speakers were discussing commercialisation, place-based innovation, policy influence, community engagement or research partnerships, the underlying challenge was remarkably similar: how do we create the conditions that enable people to work together effectively to generate meaningful impact?

A notable conference takeaway for me was that although our institutional contexts differ, many of our aspirations and challenges are remarkably similar.

Impact Is Relational, Not Transactional

At Liverpool, KE capacity-building is considered strategic infrastructure, embedded across our Research and Impact Strategy 2031. We recognise that strong partnerships, effective policy engagement, successful innovation, and sustainable impact all depend on people who are equipped and empowered to navigate increasingly VUCA environments.

The conference’s emphasis on collaboration resonated strongly with my own professional practice and felt so familiar: social innovation scholars have long argued that complex challenges cannot be solved by organisations acting alone. Impact is relational, emerging through partnerships, shared purpose and collective action. Whether discussing AI, community empowerment, regional growth or innovation, speakers repeatedly returned to relationships, trust and shared problem-solving as foundations for sustainable impact.

I was particularly struck by one speaker’s comment that sometimes, it is the people involved in KE projects who contribute even greater value than the financial value of the project!

Closing the Loop Between Researcher Development and Knowledge Exchange

KEUK Conference 2026 reinforced the growing recognition of KE as a profession in its own right. Sessions around capability frameworks, mentoring, career pathways and communities of practice highlighted the increasing need for professionals who can work across organisational, disciplinary and sectoral boundaries.

Perhaps my strongest reflection from KEUK Conference 2026 relates to how we often discuss researcher development and KE as though they are separate agendas. My experience suggests the opposite. KE cannot flourish without researchers who possess the confidence, skills, networks and mindset to engage beyond academia. Equally, researcher development is at its most powerful when it helps people create value beyond their immediate disciplinary communities. Seen through this lens, researcher development and KE capacity-building are not competing priorities; they are mutually reinforcing investments in people. One develops the capability, the other provides the opportunity to apply it.

Having spent 10+ years working across researcher development, research culture and impact, the conference reinforced my belief that these are not distinct endeavours but different expressions of the same fundamental challenge: creating the conditions in which people, ideas and partnerships can thrive. Whether we call it researcher development, knowledge exchange, innovation or impact, the underlying task and priority remains remarkably similar: develop our people and practices.

Creating the Conditions for Meaningful Impact

The future of KE undoubtedly involves new technologies, new partnerships and new funding models. But our greatest investment will always remain in people.

Perhaps the most important question we should be asking is not “What creates meaningful impact?” but “How do we create more people who are capable, confident and connected enough to make meaningful impact happen?” It is my firm belief that everything else follows from there.

Dr Saneeya Qureshi
Head of Researcher Development and Culture, The Academy, University of Liverpool

After I completed my PhD in 2024, I realised it was time to tackle my next challenge. As an academic, knowledge exchange (KE) and working with external partners had always been an important part of my career. So, when the opportunity came last year to become a Knowledge Exchange and Impact Manager at the University of Sheffield, I knew this was the logical next step. A next step that would inspire and challenge me to do something that I could be proud of. 

Finding My Place in Knowledge Exchange

Transitioning across to the other side of Higher Education has so far been a brilliant decision. It has felt like the perfect fit for me and has only been made more exciting after attending the KEUK Conference in Newport. The energy in every room was palpable and stimulating, with people from all over coming together in the spirit of collaboration and innovation. The theme of the conference ‘Knowledge Exchange for the Future’ resonated with me strongly. The focus on future-proofing knowledge exchange through forging resilient partnerships while maintaining high standards for inclusivity and innovation responded to a real-world challenge I see every day in my job and aim to tackle. 

Learning from Regional Growth and Community Empowerment  

There were two sessions that highlighted the theme particularly well. The first was the session ‘Leveraging KE for Regional Growth and Resilience – Regional Growth and Community Empowerment’ with Daniel Hewlett and Kate Marsham (University of Essex) and Lynsey Robinson (Teesside University). Two examples from two different universities, where working relationships with local partners were established as a way to fortify the university’s strength in the area and use it for community good and growth. It was inspirational to hear passionate people turn talk into action and clarify and demystify processes that, at first glance, seem complex and impenetrable. I will definitely be taking lessons and advice from this session into my and my team’s future activities, following their examples! 

Putting Community Voices at the Centre

The second session was ‘Let them eat CAKE! An Interactive Workshop Exploring the Establishment of a Community Engagement Group – Regional Growth and Community Empowerment’ with Jessica Boot-Marshall, Christian Blanchette, Amie Garforth and Ranbir Jabanda (Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health, University of Lincoln). In groups of 6, we were asked to design different community members by drawing on small wooden peg dolls and giving them individual backstories. Then, in group discussions, we explored how they engaged with the local community and how we could ensure more positive participation. This was a truly powerful session and reminded us of all what we were ultimately there at the conference to improve people’s lives through understanding and interconnected, “bigger picture” thinking. 

Leaving Inspired and Ready for Action

The chance to attend the KEUK conference is one that I am very grateful for. It’s rare to leave a conference feeling energised and genuinely excited to get to work. My brain has been buzzing ever since and I am excited to put into practice what I have learned and gained from the experience. Thank you all for making my first KEUK conference (hopefully of many) such a great experience. 

Dr Cian Hurley
Knowledge Exchange & Impact Manager, The University of Sheffield