We are very pleased to announce that Sarah Ayres, Professor of Public Policy and Governance at the the School for Policy Studies, has been appointed the new Chair of the Regional Studies Association (RSA).
Sarah commented:
“It is an honour to have been elected Chairperson of the Regional Studies Association. It’s an organisation close to my heart and one that I have been proud to serve over recent years. I share the Association’s commitment to championing a global regional studies community where scientific excellence underpins all that we do.”
Professor Ayres takes up her role at an important moment in the development of the RSA. Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the RSA and the Association is currently drafting a new strategic plan, due for launch by the end of 2025. She will therefore play a key leadership role in ensuring the RSA builds on its current strengths and adjusts to new and existing challenges in the promotion of regional understanding. She said:
“The Regional Studies Association is more diverse now than ever before. It has members in over 80 countries who represent a diversity of academic disciplines and backgrounds. This vibrancy is an opportunity to pursue innovative and impactful science that places regional studies at the heart of academic and social debates.”
Professor Ayres is a political scientist and renowned expert on Whitehall decision making and English devolution. Her work has focused on understanding how diverse actors help solve complex social problems through collaboration and local leadership. She has been an academic advisor to three UK Governments, meaning she is regularly invited to provide written and oral evidence to government enquiries. She is currently working on a large research grant project called ‘Tackling the root causes upstream of unhealthy urban development’. The project aims to improve urban development decision making so that health outcomes feature before it is too late. As part of this work, Professor Ayres is working with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government in the UK to co-design an evidence-based intervention to ensure health outcomes form part of government appraisals for urban development schemes.