WISDATABASE Steering Group

Prof. Narender Ramnani (Chair, Project Lead)    

WISDATABASE has been set up and is managed by Professor Narender Ramnani, a neuroscientist in the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London (UK). He has been a core member of the governing body of the British Neuroscience Association since 2005 and is the Chair of the Athena SWAN self-assessment team in his Department which recently won recognition through a Silver award. Prof. Ramnani has established this database with financial support from the Psychology Department at Royal Holloway, and the British Neuroscience Association.

 

Christine Cartwright (Governance and Compliance Officer, Royal Holloway)  

Since graduating from Royal Holloway in 2010 with a BA (Hons) in History, Christine has worked in various professional service departments in the university. Having previously worked in the Secretariat on the review of the College’s Statutes from 2012-2014, she re-joined the department as the Governance and Compliance Officer in July 2016 and holds a professional qualification in data protection practice. Christine provides advice to colleagues on data protection queries, ensuring compliance with the current legislation, and is currently leading on the preparations for the incoming EU General Data Protection Regulation.

 

Dr. Anne Cooke (Chief Executive Officer, British Neuroscience Association).    

After Dr. Cooke graduated from the University of Cambridge and completed her PhD there, she became a postdoctoral research scientist at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular of Biology. She became Neuroscience Research Facilitator for Bristol Neuroscience in 2003, bringing together all aspects of neuroscience research and clinical practice in the University of Bristol and associated NHS Trusts. In 2011 she became Research Development Associate, providing support for both Bristol Neuroscience and the Bristol Heart Institute, assisting them to achieve their strategic aims.  She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the British Neuroscience Association.

 

Andrea Finkel-Gates (British Psychological Society)  

Andrea joined the British Psychological Society in 2016 having started her career within professional training, before moving into teaching and then progressing into senior management within the Further Education Sector.  She is passionate about education and is driven to ensure that a high quality learning experience is at the heart of all her decisions.  Andrea also seeks to ensure, and maintain, a psychologically informed curriculum that is evidence based, from early years, through into secondary, pre-tertiary, undergraduate, postgraduate professional training and beyond.  Andrea is the Society’s senior management representative for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and is passionate about promoting women in Science, and has a particular interest in women in educational settings.

 

Prof. Jackie Hunter (CEO, BenevolentBio and former CE, BBSRC)  

Prof. Hunter has more than thirty years of high level experience in the bioscience research sector. She is CEO of BenevolentBio (formerly Stratified Medical Ltd), a business involved in drug discovery and development. In the past, she has been Chief Executive of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Head of Neurology and GI Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery and Site Head at GSK. She has also established businesses that have worked with governments, academic organisations and companies to formulate open innovation strategies and best practice. In 2010 she was awarded a CBE for Services to the Pharamceutical Industry, and in 2016 she was made a Fellow of the Royal Society. She holds several awards and honours, some of which are for her ourstanding contributions to supporting women in science.

 

Mr. Stephen Metcalfe MP (Chair, Parliamentary and Science Committee; Member and former Chair, Science and Technology Select Committee, House of Commons)   

Stephen Metcalfe was elected as Chair of the UK Parliament cross-party Science and Technology Committee in 2016 after serving as a committee member of the whole of the previous parliament. He is passionate about promoting the best interests of UK and international science, technology and engineering. He is MP for the constituency of South Basildon and East Thurrock.