The Bennett School’s 12 Advisory Board members met for the first time to discuss the vision of its research, teaching and engagement.
In October 2026, the Bennett School of Public Policy convened the inaugural meeting of its new Advisory Board in Cambridge.
The 12 Board members met with the School’s directors to discuss the Bennett’s long-term vision and strategic priorities.
Discussions highlighted its global reputation, interdisciplinary strengths and strong links with policymakers, as well as its distinctive blend of rigorous research and practical policy engagement.
The Board also reviewed current research and engagement activities, including work on regional growth, productivity, and AI governance, and supported efforts to bring together policymakers, academics and practitioners to address public policy challenges.
Looking ahead, the discussion explored the launch of the Bennett’s first PhD programme in October 2027, alongside plans to expand scholarship support. An alumni programme will also launch during the current academic year to strengthen engagement with graduates and the wider policy community.
Chair Prof Dame Ottoline Leyser thanked members for their contributions and welcomed their ongoing involvement as the Bennett School enters its next phase of growth and seeks to increase its impact on public policy in the UK and internationally.
Members of the Advisory Board
- Prof Dame Ottoline Leyser (Chair), Regius Professor of Botany at the University of Cambridge
- Prof Ben Ansell, Professor of Comparative Democratic Institutions at Nuffield College, University of Oxford
- Marcus Bokkerink, Independent Non-Executive Director at Pinsent Masons, PWC and Provenance
- Lord Browne of Madingley, Co-Founder and Chairman of BeyondNetZero
- Ben Chu, Policy and Analysis Correspondent at BBC Verify
- Alexandra Jones, Director General, Growth, Science and International at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
- Michael McNair, President & CEO of the Arctic Economic Development Corporation
- Lord James O’Shaughnessy, Senior Partner and co-founder at Newmarket Strategy
- Prof Stuart Russell, Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at the University of California
- Baroness Vadera, Chair of the World Bank Private Sector Investment Lab
- Dr Hannah White, CEO of the Institute for Government
- Prof Cornelia Woll, Professor of International Political Economy at the Hertie School, University of Governance in Berlin
The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the Bennett School of Public Policy.
