I provide strategic research leadership for 350 researchers across the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, which includes the Manchester School of Art, the Manchester Fashion Institute, the Manchester School of Architecture, the School of Digital Arts (SODA), the Manchester Centre for Youth Studies, the Manchester Writing School and the Policy Evaluation Research Unit (PERU) as well as research groups in disciplines such as history, politics, sociology and linguistics. In the last national Research Excellence Framework the Faculty contributed 41% of the university’s total REF return.I was co-founder and am co-lead of Metropolis, Manchester Metropolitan University's research-led think tank.I'm also Professor of Evaluation and Policy Analysis at Manchester Metropolitan University and an expert on evidence-based policy and public service reform with a particular interest in:- social outcomes contracts including Social Impact Bonds (SIBs);- strengths-based public services, including their effectiveness, how to scale them in complex systems and the theory that underpins them; and- evaluating the impact of socially innovative interventions in complex systems using small cohorts.I lead large, multi-partner research projects in the UK and Europe for funders including UK government departments, large not-for-profits and the European Commission.Prior to my current role I was founder Director of the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit at Manchester Metropolitan University managing a team of 25 staff and generating over £1 million of new research funding every year. I am a board member of Chorus Education Trust and am Vice Chair of the Academy for Social Justice a membership organisation with over 10,000 members. Previously I have been a member of the governing board of Manchester Metropolitan University and Chair of Governors at The Woodland Federation of Peak District Schools.