On July 15, 2024, our team gathered for a productive and insightful team meeting. It was a day packed with important updates, collaborative discussions, and strategic planning aimed at enhancing our research impact and fostering a more inclusive work environment. We are immensely grateful to everyone who joined us, especially the public contributors whose insightful discussions enriched the meeting. As we move forward, the insights and action points from this meeting will undoubtedly guide our efforts towards safer health and care systems. 

Here are the highlights from the day:

Welcome and Update
Darren Ashcroft, Director of the GM PSRC, kicked off the meeting with a brief welcome and update. He highlighted recent achievements and set the tone for the rest of the day. He was followed by Karen Considine, our Operations Lead, who provided a quick but essential overview of a few operational procedures.

Teamwork: Principles for collaboration across the PSRC
We then moved to an important session on teamwork with the team from ‘Teams Build Dreams‘. They introduced the University of Manchester’s Team Research programme, discussed network mapping, and explored effective ways of working together. This session included team-building activities that not only fostered a sense of unity but also provided practical strategies for improving our collaborative efforts.

Academic Career Development
Post-lunch, Prof Roger Webb and Dr Richard Keers, our Academic Career Development leads, presented the results of the GM PSRC Baseline Training Needs Survey. They highlighted key messages from the survey and outlined next steps to support academic career development, ensuring that everyone has access to the training and resources needed for professional growth.

Reflecting on Our EDI Practices
One of the day’s most important sessions was led by Dr. Penny Lewis, our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) lead. Penny facilitated an open discussion on our current EDI practices and identified actionable steps to enhance inclusivity within our research collaboration. This reflective session was crucial for setting the stage for ongoing EDI improvements.

Leveraging Our Platforms and Visibility
The final session of the day was led by Melissa Lima Silva, our Engagement and External Communications Manager. She provided insights into leveraging our platforms for greater visibility and discussed pathways to maximize our impact. Melissa’s presentation underscored the importance of strategic communication and outreach in amplifying our research outcomes.

Related