Insights

Dr Olga Ustyuzhantseva speaks to Mattia Dessì about Russia’s energy situation and the state's views on it; the ecological impact of coal in Russia; and the role of the labour movement in Russia's coal industry. 

This project is funded by the Hans Böckler Foundation – Just Transition: Aktivitäten im internationalen Vergleich 2021-582-2. 

Visit the project webpage. https://business.leeds.ac.uk/faculty/dir-record/research-projects/1990/just-transition-action-concepts-debates-and-strategies-an-international-comparison-across-11-countries

This podcast episode was recorded remotely in May 2023. If you would like to get in touch regarding this podcast, please contact research.lubs@leeds.ac.uk. A transcript of this episode is available. https://business.leeds.ac.uk/downloads/download/294/podcast-just-transitions---a-global-exploration
 
About the speakers: Mattia Dessì is a Postgraduate Researcher at Leeds University Business School. His PhD research focuses on new technologies and the future of work in the South African mining industry. 

Dr Olga Ustyuzhantseva is a Senior Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg (South Africa). Her recent research focus is on the sociotechnical transition to the sustainable development of coal-mining countries (South Africa and Russia), particularly climate, energy, and just transition policies and their impact on the coal phase-out trajectory.

Just Transitions – a global exploration: Russia

Drs Gabriella Alberti and Jo Cutter are joined by Caroline Keohane and Tanya Barringer from the Food and Drink Federation to discuss how the workforce in the UK food and drink sector has been affected since the end of the free movement of labour from the EU, and other subsequent crises. 

This episode has been recorded as part of the Labour Mobility in Transition (LIMITS) project, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Visit the project webpage (https://business.leeds.ac.uk/faculty/dir-record/research-projects/1870/labour-mobility-in-transition-a-multi-actor-study-of-the-re-regulation-of-migrant-work-in-low-skilled-sectors-limits).

You can read the manifesto discussed in the episode here (https://www.fdf.org.uk/globalassets/about-fdf/powers-our-nation/fdf-2024-manifesto.pdf), and the LIMITS project Employer Survey report here (https://business.leeds.ac.uk/downloads/download/332/employers-post-brexit-workforce-strategies-and-their-use-of-migrant-workers). 

This episode was recorded on 11 June 2024. If you would like to get in touch regarding this episode, please contact research.lubs@leeds.ac.uk. A transcript of this episode is available. https://business.leeds.ac.uk/downloads/download/333/podcast-transcript---labour-shortages

About the speakers: 

Dr Gabriella Alberti is an Associate Professor in Work and Employment Relations. Her research interests revolve around the conditions of workers at the bottom end of the labour market, whether on non-standard contracts, engaged in gig/platform work, excluded from social protections, migrants and minorities workers facing multiple and intersectional forms of discrimination and exclusion. 

Dr Jo Cutter is a lecturer in Work and Employment Relations. Her research focuses on employment relations, social dialogue and the regulation of work with a core focus on skills formation and training. She is currently researching these themes in relation to two contexts: workers and the just transition and labour mobility. 

Caroline Keohane is Head of Industry Growth at the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) which is the voice of the UK’s largest manufacturing sector. Caroline leads FDF’s policy work on growth, productivity and investment and works closely with senior government officials within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). She is also a Non-Executive Board member of the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink. 

Tanya Barringer is a Senior Industry Growth Policy Executive at the Food and Drink Federation.  Her areas of focus include skills (apprenticeships and skill shortages), employment and migration, the uptake of automation and digitalisation and supply chain fairness.

Labour shortages, automation, and upskilling in UK food and drink manufacturing

Professor Aristeidis Theotokis speaks to special guest, Rashik Parmar MBE, about AI and the implications it could have on both business and society as a whole. In the episode, they discuss AI’s potential and limitations; people’s perceptions of AI; who the winners and losers are when it comes to creating value from AI; and what the biggest risks are when it comes to AI. 

Both Aristeidis and Rashik presented at Leeds University Business School’s “The Business of AI” event as part of Leeds Digital Festival in September. 

The HBR article Rashik referenced in this episode is “What is responsible computing?” 

This episode was recorded on 11th October 2024. If you would like to get in touch regarding this episode, please contact research.lubs@leeds.ac.uk. A transcript of this episode is available.

About the speakers:

Aristeidis Theotokis is Professor of Marketing at Leeds University Business School. He conducts research in the areas of shopper psychology, retail technology and prosocial behavior. He examines theories and phenomena in the areas of consumer psychology, behavioural economics and social psychology. His current research includes exploring how consumers understand and interact with AI. 

Rashik Parmar, MBE is a member of Leeds University Business School’s Research International Advisory Board. Rashik is Group CEO of British Computer Society (BCS) where he is responsible for realising the BCS mission to make IT good for society. He is focused on inspiring the programmes that the BCS colleagues, members and partners that help us deliver the BCS strategy. Previously he was the IBM Fellow and Vice President responsible for creating and driving IBM’s European technical strategy. Rashik is a member of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Council and also chairs the Employment and Skills Panel at the Leeds City Region LEP and the Board of Trustees for We are IVE.

The limitations and potential of AI - and the role humans have to play in its success

Dr Ziko Konwar is joined by Dr Christopher Hassall and Professor Ulf Andersson to discuss the intricate linkages between biodiversity and business strategies, with an emphasis on operations of multinational enterprises. As part of the conversation, they explore questions such as how can businesses co-create value when it comes to preserving biological resources and mitigating the pace of biodiversity loss. And what are some of the major challenges for multinational companies integrating nature-based solutions into their business models? 

This episode was recorded on 3rd October 2024. If you would like to get in touch regarding this episode, please contact research.lubs@leeds.ac.uk. A transcript of this episode is available. 

About the speakers: 

Dr Ziko Konwar is an Assistant Professor of International Business at Leeds University Business School, and is the Director of Internationalization for the International Business Department. His research interests are in global strategy of multinational enterprises, with an emphasis on cross-national institutional and systemic challenges. He is the Leeds University Business School Research Lead for the 24-26 Cheney Fellowship project (see below), University of Leeds.   

Dr Christopher Hassall is an Associate Professor of Animal Biology in the School of Biology at the University of Leeds. He co-directs the Leverhulme Extinction Studies Doctoral Training Programme and co-leads the Aeroecology Research Group, which focuses on using radar for biodiversity monitoring. His research interests span fundamental ecology and biodiversity conservation, with a particular emphasis on interdisciplinary solutions to biodiversity challenges. 

Professor Ulf Andersson is a Professor of Business Studies in Mälardalen University, Sweden. Ulf is a research leader and expert on subsidiary management strategy of multinational enterprises, and is a Fellow of the Academy of International Business and European International Business Academy. Ulf is the first Cheney Fellow to be hosted at Leeds University Business School, University of Leeds. 

About the project:

The Cheney fellowship project will utilize inter-disciplinary research expertise to address the role of global strategy of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in biodiversity loss (e.g. species/habitat extinction and MNE global innovation). The research team comprises Professor Ulf Andersson (incoming Cheney Fellow), Dr Ziko Konwar, Professor Yingqi (Annie) Wei and Professor Frank McDonald (Leeds University Business School), Dr Christopher Hassall (Faculty of Biological Sciences,) and Professor George Holmes (School of Earth and Environment). Over the past ten years, the Cheney Fellowship programme has established fruitful and high-impact research partnerships in areas such as water security, molecular biology, medicine and materials science. This programme has been made possible through a $4 million gift from Bacteriology and Biochemistry graduate Peter Cheney and his wife Susan.   

All quiet on the biodiversity strategy front: multinational enterprises, value creation and sustainable ecosystems

David Loseby, Visiting Professor of Research Impact at Leeds University Business School, interviews Frank Lee, Chief Executive Officer at the Institute for Collaborative Working, asking what makes a great partner, and how value can be created through collaboration. 

Both David and Frank spoke at the “Ideas in Practice: Supply Chain Summit 2024”, which was co-hosted by Leeds University Business School and the Institute for Collaborative Working. The event, held in November 2024, explored how managing complex supply chains is increasingly vital to all organisations. 

Additional note: In the episode, David and Frank mention ISO 44000 and ISO 44001. These are standards created by the International Organization for Standardization, that provide frameworks for successful collaborative business relationship management. 

This episode was recorded on 3rd February 2025. If you would like to get in touch regarding this episode, please contact research.lubs@leeds.ac.uk. A transcript of this episode is available. (https://business.leeds.ac.uk/downloads/download/354/podcast-transcript---collaboration-done-right)

About the speakers: 

David Loseby is Professor of Research Impact in Supply Chain Management at Leeds University Business School. He is a modern day “pracademic” that has spent over three decades in procurement and supply chain roles internationally across a diverse set of sectors from pharmaceuticals, banking, retail, manufacturing, and public sector (NHS and Westminster City Council) and more recently as the Group CPO for Rolls Royce. He is also a visiting scholar at the University of East Anglia involved in Executive MBA and MSc programmes, as well as his own active research portfolio in Behavioural Science.  

Frank Lee is the Chief Executive Officer at the Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW), a role he has held since early 2023. He joined ICW after more than 30 years with the British Standards Institution (BSI), where he held various leadership roles. Frank has been instrumental in establishing a new vision and purpose for ICW, transforming it into a modern, agile, and outward-focused institution. 

Collaborative working

In this episode of the Research and Innovation Podcast, Rashik Parmar MBE, and Professor Mehmet Dogar explore advances in artificial intelligence, responsible computing, and robotics. They discuss why responsible computing is becoming urgent, the challenges of making digital systems ethical and sustainable, and the ambition to position the UK as a world-leader in this space. Mehmet shares insights from the University of Leeds Robotics Lab, including why robotics lags behind other areas of AI and how researchers are tackling complex tasks like multi-object packing and physical interaction. Together, they look ahead to what responsible, trustworthy computing and more capable robots could mean for society in the coming years. 

Both Rashik and Mehmet presented on these topics at the Leeds Digital Festival event - “The future is now: tech driving UK industry” - which was co-hosted by Leeds University Business School and the School of Computer Science.  

Mehmet’s research is supported by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [EP/V052659/1] 

This episode was recorded on 8 December 2025. If you would like to get in touch regarding this episode, please contact research.lubs@leeds.ac.uk. A transcript of this episode is available. 

About the speakers: 

Rashik Parmar MBE is a member of Leeds University Business School’s Research International Advisory Board. Previously, Rashik was Group CEO of British Computer Society (BCS), and the IBM Fellow and Vice President responsible for creating and driving IBM’s European technical strategy. Rashik is a member of the Open University Council and also chairs Industry Advisory Board for Digit Lab. 

Professor Mehmet Dogar is Professor of Robotics & AI at the University of Leeds. His research focuses on autonomous robotic manipulation. Mehmet is an EPSRC Fellow, and an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Robotics Research, and an Associate Editor for the IEEE Transactions on Robotics.

Towards a world of ethical computing and smarter robots

Professor Vera Trappmann speaks to senior researcher Dario Azzellini about his research on Colombia’s approach to just transition in this latest episode of the “Just transitions – a global exploration” series. Dario gives an overview of Colombia’s holistic and community-driven approach to just transition – where unions, activities and communities push for a post-extractivist future, despite immense risks and structural challenges.  

This project is funded by the Hans Böckler Foundation – Just Transition: Aktivitäten im internationalen Vergleich 2021-582-2.  

Visit the project webpage: https://business.leeds.ac.uk/dir-record/research-projects/1990/just-transition-action-concepts-debates-and-strategies-an-international-comparison-across-11-countries

This podcast episode was recorded remotely in November 2025. If you would like to get in touch regarding this podcast, please contact research.lubs@leeds.ac.uk. A transcript of this episode is available: https://business.leeds.ac.uk/downloads/download/393/podcast-transcript---colombia
 
About the speakers:  

Vera Trappmann is Professor of Comparative Employment Relations at Leeds University Business School. She studies the transformation of work and its impact on workers with a particular focus on climate change, just transition and the green economy. 

https://business.leeds.ac.uk/divisions-work-employment-relations/staff/544/dr-vera-trappmann%22%3EProfessor%20Vera%20Trappmann 

Dario Azzellini is a senior researcher in the Department of Sociology at the University Duisburg-Essen. His research interests focus on labour studies, sustainable work and Just Transition, and workers’ self-management. 

https://www.azzellini.net/en/biographie/curriculum-vitae

Just Transitions - a Global Exploration: Colombia

In this opening episode of "Gerrin' on wi' it," hosts Paul Hayes and Dr Andy Mycock set the stage for exploring collaboration across Yorkshire and the Humber - a region they argue is England's trailblazer for academic-policy engagement. 

Paul and Andy discuss the origins of the Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network (Y-PERN) and the Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP), born from a 2021 memorandum of understanding between Yorkshire Universities and Yorkshire & Humber Councils. They reflect on how COVID-19 became a catalyst for collaboration, revealing the power of bringing together universities, local authorities, combined authorities, and communities around shared challenges. 

The conversation explores what makes collaboration work: building trust through sustained relationships, understanding different institutional cultures, and creating a "network of networks" that maximizes regional capacity. From Early Years education to economic growth, they discuss how partnership working has evolved from coffee conversations to formal compacts and community engagement. 

This episode introduces the “Gerrin’ on wit’ it” series as a space to speak to people that are making things happen in the region and driving things forward with collaboration at the forefront.  

This episode was recorded on 9 December 2025. If you would like to get in touch, please contact contact@y-pern.org.uk. A transcript of this episode is available. Y-PERN is funded by the UKRI’s Research England Development (RED) Fund; YPIP is funded by the UKRI’s Economic and Social Research Council.  

Acronyms explained: 

Y-PERN – Yorkshire and Humber Policy and Engagement Network 

YPIP – Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership 

UPEN – Universities Policy Engagement Network 

YU – Yorkshire Universities 

YHC – Yorkshire and Humber Councils 

ESRC – Economic and Social Research Council  

Helpful links: 

https://www.n8research.org.uk/  

https://whiterose.ac.uk/  

https://yorkshireuniversities.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/137/2025/04/YH-Councils-and-YU-MoU-2025.pdf  

https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/media/csofehp1/further-education-and-west-yorkshire-combined-authority-compact-with-colleges-2025-28.pdf  

About the speakers: 

Dr Andy Mycock is a political scientist with extensive experience of academic public policy engagement. As Chief Policy Fellow for the Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network (www.y-pern.org.uk) he collaborates with a wide range of academic, government and non-government stakeholders across the region and UK and internationally. Andy is also Cross-Programme Lead for the University Policy Engagement Network and is an elected trustee of the Political Studies Association. He chaired the Kirklees Democracy Commission (2016-2018) and was recently appointed to the UK Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government College of Experts.    

Paul Hayes is Senior Policy Engagement Fellow at Leeds University Business School, supporting academic colleagues in developing impacts from their work and in engaging with the policy community and public bodies. He was formerly corporate policy manager at Wakefield Council and policy lead for the Key Cities Group, an association of 27 mid-size UK cities. This role encompassed policy advisory work to local, regional and national politicians; development and authorship of local and regional strategies and plans; engagement with and representation on working groups of UK government and national bodies; and responses to consultations. The role also included scoping, commissioning, and joint development of academic and think tank research and engagement with business and voluntary and community sectors. 

“Collaboration brings more strength than going it alone” - Creating networks that address Yorkshire's challenges

This episode of Gerrin’ On Wi’ It, Andy Mycock talks with Dr Peter O’Brien, Executive Director of Yorkshire Universities, about how collaboration is shaping the future of Yorkshire and the Humber.  

Peter reflects on the unique partnership between the region’s 12 universities, their work with local and combined authorities, and the remarkable journey since signing the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding which laid the groundwork for major initiatives like the Yorkshire and Humber Policy and Engagement Network (Y-PERN) and the Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP). Peter identifies that the diverse landscape of Yorkshire is bound together by a strong sense of identity which creates a basis for shared purpose and shared agendas.  

Together they discuss what effective collaboration looks like, why trust and communication matter, and how shared regional identity helps Yorkshire speak with one voice.  

Peter also looks ahead to the challenges and opportunities for the sector, including sustaining this work, strengthening connections with communities and policymakers, and ensuring universities continue to play a meaningful civic role in the region. 

This episode was recorded on 16 December 2025. If you would like to get in touch, please contact contact@y-pern.org.uk. A transcript of this episode is available. 

Acronyms explained: 

Y-PERN – Yorkshire and Humber Policy and Engagement Network 

UPEN – Universities Policy Engagement Network 

YU – Yorkshire Universities 

YPIP – Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership 

YHC – Yorkshire and Humber Councils 

MOU – Memorandum of Understanding 

Helpful links: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/levelling-up-the-united-kingdom  

https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/  

https://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/our-universities  

https://www.unialliance.ac.uk/  

https://www.n8research.org.uk/  

https://whiterose.ac.uk/ 

https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/APPG/yorkshire-and-northern-lincolnshire  

https://www.transportforthenorth.com/northern-powerhouse-rail/  

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/post-16-education-and-skills-white-paper  

About the speakers:    

Dr Andy Mycock is a political scientist with extensive experience of academic public policy engagement. As Chief Policy Fellow for the Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network (www.y-pern.org.uk) he collaborates with a wide range of academic, government and non-government stakeholders across the region and UK and internationally. Andy is also Cross-Programme Lead for the University Policy Engagement Network and is an elected trustee of the Political Studies Association. He chaired the Kirklees Democracy Commission (2016-2018) and was recently appointed to the UK Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government College of Experts.   

 
Dr Peter O'Brien, Yorkshire Universities Executive Director 

Peter leads the Yorkshire Universities’ (YU) Executive Team, and he is Company Secretary for the Limited Company and Charity. With over two decades’ experience, as both a senior practitioner and academic, Peter has driven YU’s increasing and influential policy engagement and activity in Yorkshire. He has worked extensively, at a senior level, across the north of England, and he has published widely on a range of matters relating to local and regional development. Peter is a Commissioner on the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission, and he also represents YU and the higher education sector on many high-level regional groups and committees. 

 

Harnessing diverse research capabilities across 12 universities for a Yorkshire shared mission

In this episode of "Gerrin' on wi' it," host Dr Andy Mycock speaks with Professor Joe Cook from the University of Hull about what makes collaboration work in research and community engagement. 

Joe leads the Communities in their Places cross-cutting theme for the Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP), working with local authorities, voluntary organisations, and residents across Yorkshire and the Humber. She discusses Hull's "flipped university" model that prioritises community needs, the art of listening over ivory tower thinking, and building trust by not overpromising. 

Drawing on projects from Local Area Coordination to cost of living crisis research, Joe illustrates how participatory action research bridges gaps between stakeholders with competing pressures - and why the most powerful research reflects lived experiences and delivers tangible outcomes for real people, not just academic publications. 

This episode was recorded on 16 December 2025. If you would like to get in touch, please contact contact@y-pern.org.uk. A transcript of this episode is available.  

Acronyms explained: 

Y-PERN – Yorkshire and Humber Policy and Engagement Network 

UPEN – Universities Policy Engagement Network 

UKRI – UK Research and Innovation 

ESRC – Economic and Social Research Council 

YPIP – Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership 

Helpful links: 

https://www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/lacnetwork/local-area-coordination/what-is-local-area-coordination/  

About the speakers: 

Dr Andy Mycock is a political scientist with extensive experience of academic public policy engagement. As Chief Policy Fellow for the Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network (www.y-pern.org.uk) he collaborates with a wide range of academic, government and non-government stakeholders across the region and UK and internationally. Andy is also Cross-Programme Lead for the University Policy Engagement Network and is an elected trustee of the Political Studies Association. He chaired the Kirklees Democracy Commission (2016-2018) and was recently appointed to the UK Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government College of Experts.    

Joe Cook is Professor of Organisational Behaviour at the Hull University Business School. Her research focuses on building lived experience and community voice into policy and practice. Joe leads on ‘Communities in Their Places’ in the YPIP.  She has held 16 UK and EU grants (ESRC, NIHR, British Academy, EU, government & local authority commissions) including cross-sectoral dialogue, prevention in adult social Care, responsible business, employee volunteering and also on ageing and migration. Her leisure time is spent with her two Irish Setters Logan and Noah. 

"Collaboration is essential for research to be useful and responsive" - Yorkshire academics embracing cross-sector working

In the first episode of our “Work in Progress” series, hosted by Dr Sanjay Popat, Sanjay speaks with NHS doctor, BAFTA award winner, and best-selling author Dr Ranj. Together, they candidly discuss Dr Ranj’s experience of burnout as well as why the NHS has become such a high-risk environment for burnout, and what urgently needs to change. 

This episode was recorded on 27 January 2026. A transcript of the episode is available. If you would like to get in touch regarding the episode or podcast, email research.lubs@leeds.ac.uk. Visit the podcast webpage for further information. 

About the speakers: 

Dr Ranj is a physician, broadcaster, and bestselling author recognised as one of the UK’s leading TV health experts. A co-host of BBC One’s Morning Live and co-creator of the BAFTA-winning Get Well Soon, he is a familiar face across Britain’s flagship television programmes.   

Dr Sanjay Popat is a Chartered Organisational Psychologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow specialising in occupational stress, well-being and mental health. His work focuses on how these phenomena occur over time and how time might influence whether we adapt to stressors or reach a breaking point. 

Talking burnout with Dr Ranj

In this episode of "Gerrin' on wi' it," Paul Hayes speaks with Dr Dan Olner from the University of Sheffield about bridging the gap between academia and local government. As a policy fellow embedded within the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), Dan shares his experiences working at the intersection of data science, regional economic policy, and collaborative governance. 

Dan discusses his dual role as both university researcher and embedded policy analyst, explaining how he helps answer critical questions about South Yorkshire's economy, growth sectors, and regional strengths. Rather than operating as a traditional academic expert transmitting knowledge from on high, he describes a collaborative model where experts from different backgrounds work together on equal footing. 

Dan contrasts his ongoing, open approach with traditional consultant models, emphasizing the value of sustained relationships and accessible data. The conversation also examines the sustainability of such embedded roles, the benefits to both academics and policymakers, and the need for collaborative funding from national bodies, regional authorities, and universities to mainstream this type of engagement. Ultimately, Dan makes a compelling case for why these bridging roles matter for evidence-based policymaking and regional development. 

This episode was recorded on 17 December 2025. If you would like to get in touch, please contact contact@y-pern.org.uk. A transcript of this episode is available.  

About the speakers: 

Paul Hayes is Senior Policy Engagement Fellow at Leeds University Business School, supporting academic colleagues in developing impacts from their work and in engaging with the policy community and public bodies. He was formerly corporate policy manager at Wakefield Council and policy lead for the Key Cities Group, an association of 27 mid-size UK cities. This role encompassed policy advisory work to local, regional and national politicians; development and authorship of local and regional strategies and plans; engagement with and representation on working groups of UK government and national bodies; and responses to consultations. The role also included scoping, commissioning, and joint development of academic and think tank research and engagement with business and voluntary and community sectors. 

Dr Dan Olner is a data analyst and geographer based in the School of Management at Sheffield University and, through the Yorkshire & Humber Policy Engagement Research Network (Y-PERN), is working with South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority on all things economic and regional and data. Dan hasn't strayed far from Yorkshire, studying politics at Sheffield University and a PhD at Leeds University. Find out about Dan's work at danolner.net and coveredinbees.org or link up at www.linkedin.com/in/danolner.   

 

Terms and acronyms: 

SYMCA – South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority  

Y-PERN – Yorkshire and Humber Policy and Engagement Research Network 

"My knowledge of regional policy is night and day different now" - an academic embedded in South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA)

In this episode of Gerrin’ on wi’ it, Paul Hayes sits down with community leader Kate Macdonald to explore what genuine cross‑sector collaboration really looks like in Yorkshire and the Humber. Drawing on decades of experience in academia, the NHS, and grassroots community projects, Kate discusses the challenges faced by the voluntary and community sector - from short‑term funding cycles to power imbalances and cultural misunderstandings. Together, they unpack why relationship‑building, trust, and equitable knowledge exchange are essential ingredients for meaningful co‑production, sustainable partnerships, and place‑based change. 
This episode was recorded on 18 February 2026. If you would like to get in touch, please contact contact@y-pern.org.uk. A transcript of this episode is available. 

About the speakers: 
Kate Macdonald has over 30 years of experience in academia, NHS mental health services, and grassroots community projects. She has improved mental health services locally and regionally, including early psychosis care, and uses relational practice and systems thinking to foster trust, equitable collaboration, and human-centred solutions. She founded TimeBank Hull and East Riding, co-facilitates Hull Poverty Truth Commission, and is Development Coordinator for the Ideas Fund, connecting communities and researchers. She also leads the Community Panel for the Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership, championing inclusive approaches that enable communities to shape policy and co-create solutions. 
Paul Hayes is Senior Policy Engagement Fellow at Leeds University Business School, supporting academic colleagues in developing impacts from their work and in engaging with the policy community and public bodies. He was formerly corporate policy manager at Wakefield Council and policy lead for the Key Cities Group, an association of 27 mid-size UK cities. This role encompassed policy advisory work to local, regional and national politicians; development and authorship of local and regional strategies and plans; engagement with and representation on working groups of UK government and national bodies; and responses to consultations. The role also included scoping, commissioning, and joint development of academic and think tank research and engagement with business and voluntary and community sectors. 

Terms and acronyms: 
Y-PERN – Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network  https://y-pern.org.uk/
YPIP – Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership  https://ypip.org.uk/
Timebank Hull and East Riding https://www.timebankhullandeastriding.co.uk/ 
Hull Poverty Truth Commission  https://forumcio.org.uk/projects/hull-poverty-truth-commission/
The Ideas Fund  https://theideasfund.org/
YPIP Community Panel  https://ypip.org.uk/service/communities-in-their-places/
‘Not another toolkit’  https://ypip.org.uk/not-another-toolkit-policy-session-reflections-on-policy-power-and-participation/


"The key thing is equitable, reciprocal knowledge exchange" - building and sustaining collaborative relationships

In this episode of “Gerrin’ on wit’ it”, Paul Hayes speaks with Kersten England CBE about how collaboration drives meaningful change across Yorkshire and the Humber. Kersten reflects on major moments in her long career within local government and contributing to local, regional, and national conversations to influence decision making processes. These candid reflections provide examples that emphasise why collaboration isn’t optional when tackling complex social situations - what works, what doesn’t, and what she would do differently as the region continues to build a more collaborative future.

Kersten explains why effective partnerships require deep listening, shared incentives, and a commitment to long‑term relationships. Paul and Kersten discuss the impact of initiatives such as YPIP and Y‑PERN, and they explore how universities, local authorities, and communities can work together more effectively. 

Paul and Kersten unpack how to balance academic incentives with place-based needs to strengthen collaboration and how to embed genuine, non-transactional relationships across sectors.  The conversation highlights the importance of governance, strong networks, capacity building, and sustainable resourcing.  

This episode was recorded on 9 December 2025. If you would like to get in touch, please contact contact@y-pern.org.uk. A transcript of this episode is available. 

About the speakers:

Kersten England currently serves as Chair of Bradford 2025 (UK City of Culture) and Chair of the Young Foundation – having recently stepped down as Chief Executive of Bradford Council and Chair of Yorkshire & Humber Councils. She has over 30 years of experience in local government leadership across Kirklees, Calderdale, and York.

Paul Hayes is Senior Policy Engagement Fellow at Leeds University Business School, supporting academic colleagues in developing impacts from their work and in engaging with the policy community and public bodies. He was formerly corporate policy manager at Wakefield Council and policy lead for the Key Cities Group, an association of 27 mid-size UK cities. This role encompassed policy advisory work to local, regional and national politicians; development and authorship of local and regional strategies and plans; engagement with and representation on working groups of UK government and national bodies; and responses to consultations. The role also included scoping, commissioning, and joint development of academic and think tank research and engagement with business and voluntary and community sectors.

Terms and acronyms:
•	YPIP – Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership
•	Bradford 2025 City of Culture
•	The Young Foundation
•	REF – Research Excellence Framework
•	Y-PERN – Yorkshire and Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network
•	Yorkshire Engagement Portal (YEP)
•	Yorkshire and Humber Office for Data Analytics (YHODA)
•	Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC)


• "Bringing together coalitions of the willing" - Yorkshire stakeholders collaborating for shared outcomes

Leeds University Business School’s Research and Innovation podcast brings you insights from our expert researchers. From the future of work, to disruptive technologies; green behaviours to emerging markets, we’ll be covering a wide-range of topical issues and novel ideas. 

Listen to the podcast to find out more about our research and how it’s inspiring business managers, informing policymakers and influencing society.

If you have any comments regarding any of these episodes, please contact research.lubs@leeds.ac.uk.

The limitations and potential of AI - and the role humans have to play in its success

Leeds University Business School

Related tracks