Speaker Biographies
Professor Michelle Briggs, Clinical Professor of Nursing, University of Liverpool
Professor Michelle Briggs is part of the Liverpool Pain Research Institute which is a cross-departmental, interdisciplinary institute established by the University of Liverpool. The PRI provides a platform for pain researchers across the Liverpool region, including NHS institutions and other universities. My research group is comprised of clinical academics in nursing, midwifery, psychology, physiotherapy, and pharmacy. My research is contributing improved pain management with the following key areas of focus.
Development of Complex Interventions - I lead a multidisciplinary team that designs and tests complex interventions for pain management. These interventions often integrate digital health tools, pain communication strategies, and psychological support, aiming to improve both clinical outcomes and patient experiences,
Addressing Pain Inequalities - My research explicitly targets marginalized populations, including:
• People with frailty
• Those with cultural, language or religious needs
• People whose pain may be under-recognized or undertreated (e.g. women's pain, pain management for people living with dementia)
I am committed to promoting Inclusive Research Teams my research group includes professionals from nursing, midwifery, psychology, physiotherapy, and pharmacy, medicine and neuroscience promoting a holistic and inclusive approach to pain management. This diversity helps address the varied needs of patients from different backgrounds
Professor Iain Buchan, Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Innovation, University of Liverpool
Professor Iain Buchan is the W.H. Duncan Professor of Public Health Systems, Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Innovation, and Director of Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL) at University of Liverpool. Public health physician and data scientist with over 25 years of experience in public health and data science. He has led over £250m in research activity and published over 370 works (h-index 89), including software, and patents. He led the world’s first evaluation of mass rapid antigen testing, risk-mitigated reopening of mass events for UK COVID-19 responses. He founded the UK’s first Civic Data Cooperative. He leads data science and AI research focused on global challenges of antimicrobial resistance, pandemic preparedness, mental health, medicines optimisation, multimorbidity and health system resilience. Qualified in pharmacology, medicine, public health, statistics, and informatics, he is a Fellow of American College of Medical Informatics, NIHR Senior Investigator, recipient of Faculty of Public Health Alwyn-Smith medal and Royal Statistical Society Florence Nightingale Award.
Lisa Carey, Senior Partnership Development Manager, Research Collaborations and Partnerships, University of Liverpool
Lisa Carey is an experienced business development manager with a demonstrated history of working in the Higher Education sector.
Professor Georgina Endfield, Dean of the School of Histories, Languages and Cultures, University of Liverpool
Professor Georgina Endfield studied for both her BSc in Geography and her MSc in Archaeology at the University of Liverpool before completing her PhD in Geography at the University of Sheffield.
I joined the School of Geography at the University of Nottingham in January 1998, starting as a lecturer and becoming a full Professor in 2012. In January 2017 I joined the University of Liverpool as APVC for Research and Impact in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and remained in this role until December 2022. I then took on the role of APVC for the Research Environment and Postgraduate Research, which I was in until taking my current position in October 2025. I have held various roles including Honorary Secretary for Research and Higher Education for the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers, 2008-2014). I was a full panel member and also an Interdisciplinary Research Advisor for UoA 14 (Geography and Environmental Studies) in REF 2021.
I am a member of the Leverhulme Trust Advisory Panel (starting 2023) and regularly participate in funding panels and moderating boards for AHRC, ESRC, NERC and UKRI. I was also a Steering Committee member of the Strategic Priorities Fund (SPF) UK Climate Resilience programme. I was elected as a Fellow of the British Academy in 2023.
Dr Matthew Flynn, Senior Lecturer in Music Industries, University of Liverpool
Dr Matthew Flynn is the Director of the Institute of Popular Music, Co-Director of MusicFutures, Project Lead for the Live Music Mapping Project and member of the Liverpool City Region Music Board.
Professor Anthony Hollander, PVC for Research and Impact, University of Liverpool
As Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research & Impact and Professor of Stem Cell Biology at the University of Liverpool, Professor Anthony Hollander provides strategic leadership for the development of research policy and for ensuring impact of the University’s research programmes in Liverpool and around the world. Anthony is also responsible for commercialisation of research, for developing partnerships with companies and other external stakeholders and for the training of postgraduate research students.
His research career has focussed on the development of stem cell therapies for treating diseases of cartilage. His former University of Bristol spin-out company, Azellon Ltd, developed a stem cell treatment for torn knee cartilage and his new University of Liverpool spin-out company, TrophiCell, is developing trophic stem cell therapies for a range of chronic diseases. He was previously part of a team that created the world’s first tissue engineered airway and was former President of the International Cartilage Repair Society, Chair of Utrecht University’s International Scientific and Societal Advisory Board for Life Sciences and Chair of the Russell Group Pro-Vice-Chancellor’s Research Network.
Dr Fiona McBride, Senior Researcher Developer, University of Liverpool
Dr Fiona McBride leads Prosper at the University of Liverpool. She works within the Researcher Development and Culture team within the Academy. Fiona is passionate about career development for researchers, for postdocs in particular.
Sam Mukhopadhyay, Head of COP UK Engagement and Planning, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Sam Mukhopadhyay is Head of Engagement and Planning for COPs for the UK. COPs are annual climate change conferences that take part under the UNFCCC process for mitigating and managing climate change impacts globally. I have previously worked in the vaccines taskforce, Brexit planning and wider mutual agreements between UK and other geopolitical partners.
Dr Stefania Silvestri, Researcher Developer, University of Liverpool
Dr Stefania Silvestri is a Researcher Developer for Prosper at the University of Liverpool. Working alongside Fiona, Stefania brings her experience as an international researcher with her passion for languages and cultures and her enthusiasm to support others in developing their career potential.
Dr Jacqueline Waldock, Lecturer in Music, University of Liverpool
Dr Jacqueline Waldock pursued PhD in Music follow this her career trajectory led her into the realm of consultancy and artistic work, specializing in community-engaged place-making practices. This path was marked by the production of several publicly funded artworks and compositions.
In 2021, Jacqueline joined the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Liverpool as an Impact Fellow. Furthering her academic career, she embraced the role of Lecturer in the School of the Arts, Department of Music, in 2024. Her research is anchored in sound studies, with a particular emphasis on place-making, sonic home, the role of sound in health and wellbeing. Jacqueline is an active member of the AHRC Peer Review College