Stepping down as SEED Director of Research

14 Jul 2026

A message from Pam Qualter, the outgoing Director of Research in the School of Environment, Education & Development

Dear colleagues,

As many of you will know, I am stepping down from my role as SEED Director of Research, with Gareth Clay, from Geography, taking over the role.

It has been a real privilege to serve as Director of Research and to work with colleagues across the School. SEED is an extraordinarily broad and intellectually diverse research community, and one of the things I have valued most about the role has been the opportunity to learn more about the remarkable research taking place across all our departments.

The role has, of course, had its challenges, but I am enormously grateful to the many colleagues who have worked with me, supported me, challenged my thinking, and contributed so generously to our collective research activities. I have particularly appreciated the commitment of our Departmental Research Directors, REF29 and Impact leads, professional services colleagues, and everyone who has given their time to panels, reviews, working groups, and the many other activities that underpin research across the School. Much of that work is largely invisible, but it matters enormously. Special thanks to Louise Gorton and Georgia Vesma, for being, quite frankly, the best colleagues one could ever ask for.

I am proud of what we have achieved together and of the conversations we have started about research culture, support, sustainability, impact, and the future direction of research in SEED. There is always more to do, but I leave the role with great confidence in the strength and ambition of our research community. Gareth will, I know, bring his own ideas, energy, and perspective to the role, and I wish him every success. I hope you will give him the same support and generosity that you have shown me.

Thank you to everyone who has made my time as Director of Research rewarding. I am not going anywhere, of course, and look forward to continuing to work with many of you, just with a slightly different hat on.

Best wishes,

Pam