Leading Roles for Cardiff University Professors in REF 2029
3 June 2025
Professor Rick Delbridge and Professor Chris Taylor have been appointed Chair and Deputy Chair on two Research Excellence Framework (REF 2029) Sub-Panels.
Professor Rick Delbridge of Cardiff Business School has been appointed to Chair the REF 2029 Business and Management Studies sub-panel alongside Professor Sally Dibb from Coventry University.
Professor Chris Taylor of the School of Social Sciences has been appointed as Deputy Chair of the REF 2029 Education sub-panel, working with Chair Professor Dominic Wyse of University College London.
The 34 expert sub-panels cover a broad range of subject areas including life sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, and mathematical sciences. Each panel is comprised of academic experts from across the United Kingdom.
Welcoming his appointment as Chair of the Business and Management Studies sub-panel, Professor Delbridge said: “It’s an honour to have been selected for this important role by the four funding research councils of the UK. I am also grateful for the faith shown in me by the business and management research community."
I am acutely aware that these are challenging times for the sector, and I hope to match the wisdom and clear-sightedness of my predecessors in this role. It was a pleasure to be part of an efficient and collegiate assessment process last time and I am looking forward to working with colleagues to deliver a process that is recognised as robust and fair this time around.
Rick is a Professor of Organisational Analysis at Cardiff Business School and is co-convenor of the Centre for Innovation Policy (CIPR). His research interests include the management and organisation of innovation, employment relations, and Japanese management practices.
A fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, British Academy of Management, and the Learned Society of Wales, he was Cardiff University’s Dean of Research, Innovation and Enterprise from 2012 to 2019. During this time, he led the development of the University’s Social Science Research Park (SPARK).
On his appointment as Deputy Chair of the Education sub-panel, Professor Taylor said: “I’m really pleased to be taking on the role of Deputy Chair for the Education Subpanel in REF 2029. It’s a privilege to support this important process, and I’m looking forward to working closely with Professor Dominic Wyse and the rest of the panel."
Education research has so much to offer – in shaping policy, practice, and public understanding – and I’m committed to helping ensure that the breadth and depth of that contribution is recognised and valued. As someone based in Wales, I’m also keen to reflect the rich diversity of educational research across the UK, including the distinctive strengths and priorities we see across the devolved policy landscape.
Chris is a Professor of Social Sciences, and the Academic Director of SPARK, based at Cardiff University’s award winning sbarc|spark building. Professor Taylor specialises in educational and social issues, and his work includes government-funded evaluations of the Foundation Phase for all 3 – 7 year olds in Wales, the Pupil Development Grant, and the Welsh Baccalaureate qualification.
He was previously Co-Director of the Wales Institute of Social & Economic Research & Data (WISERD), establishing the WISERD Education Data Lab which utilises education administrative data to support education priorities in Wales, and helps convene the annual WISERD Education Multi-Cohort Study (WMCS).
Professor Roger Whitaker, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Enterprise welcomed the appointments, saying: "I’m thrilled to see Professor Delbridge and Professor Taylor appointed as Chair and Deputy Chair for REF 2029 panels. These appointments represent their longstanding commitment to research excellence and thought leadership, and I’m certain Rick and Chris will strongly represent UK communities in this important exercise."
REF Director Rebecca Fairbairn said: “I’m delighted to welcome this outstanding group to lead the REF 2029 sub-panels. Their deep expertise and broad perspectives will be central to building an assessment process that is fair, rigorous, and trusted by the research community. We have been working in partnership with the sector throughout this process, and I’m grateful to everyone who expressed interest – your engagement is what strengthens the credibility and value of the REF across our research landscape.”
The REF is the UK’s system for assessing the excellence of research in UK higher education providers, conducted roughly every 6 -7 years. Its outcomes are used to inform the allocation of around £2 billion per year of public funding for universities’ research.
The panel chairs and deputy chairs will lead their units of assessment through the criteria setting phase, beginning later this year, and on through to the final assessment. They are now working to appoint their full panels, ensuring that membership reflects the full range of required expertise. These appointments will be announced in summer 2025.
Read more about the full list of REF 2029 appointees here.
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