It is a privilege to join you, our Board and Executive team, as your new Chief Executive. I’m delighted to step into this role, and I wish to thank you for the warm welcome I’ve already received. I’m looking forward to working collaboratively with you all to deliver on our shared ambitions for our sector, and our association.
I join you at a time when industries everywhere are operating against a backdrop of uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. The strength of our association lies in its community and the shared knowledge and support of our membership, that has enabled our sector to thrive during times of change and challenge. I would like to acknowledge the dedication of UKSPA’s members, volunteers and staff over the past 40 years whose shared experience, support, and resources have ensured the resilience of our sector and enabled it to thrive.
With the UK Government’s 10-year Industrial Strategy Invest 2035 placing renewed emphasis on science and innovation, our organisation’s purpose remains as vital today as at our inception: to advance the growth and prosperity of the UK’s science and innovation infrastructure.
In my first three weeks, I have been delighted to meet with the UKSPA Central Regional Group at Vulcan Works (managed by Oxford Innovation Space) in Northampton, attend the UK Innovation Districts Group Summit in London’s Knowledge Quarter, and take part in the UKSPA Scotland Group Meeting hosted by the Roslin Innovation Centre. I am also pleased to be representing UKSPA at a roundtable discussion in the House of Lords at the end of October, in response to the recently published Industrial Strategy.
In the months ahead, my priority will be to listen and learn – meet with members, partners and stakeholders to understand your priorities and aspirations, while working with our Board and executive team to build the structures, resources, and vision that will help us thrive in a changing environment.
My vision for UKSPA is to ensure that our association represents its diverse membership with strength and clarity, advances the growth and development of our sector by encouraging collaboration between academia, government and industry, and contributes to regional and national economic development by influencing policy and sharing best practice. We will continue to ensure our collective voice is heard where it matters most, and our members and partners are actively involved and proud to belong.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our next UKSPA Conference on 20th and 21st November. Your views, insights and experiences help shape the future of UKSPA and our sector, so we really hope you can join us. Until then, I look forward to visiting more of you at your inspirational locations and businesses, working side by side with you to build our next chapter.
With best wishes,
Ruth Hall
Chief Executive
