The privilege of presidency

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I remember how honoured I felt when MRS CEO Jane Frost first approached me, five years ago, to invite me to be president of the MRS. She explained that, in addition to its broad ambassadorial remit, she hoped I would help champion the drive to improve the diversity and inclusion of the sector.

In my first speech to the 2017 conference, I said: “No-one is able to say that their sector or company is completely inclusive. You are no exception – and it’s important that you put some energy into addressing the issues that have been uncovered, working from your strengths, so you never doubt your ability to be insightful about the people you profess to understand.” I have been so heartened by the huge strides the MRS has made in this area over the past five years, both in drawing attention to the issue and galvanising change.

As I come to the end of my term, I have been reflecting on my personal highlights over the past few years. It probably won’t surprise you to know that the first one that comes to mind is the launch of MRS Pride. Michael Brown and John Bizzell first pitched the idea to Jane Frost as a way of providing a forum for LGBTQI people (and their allies) to come together.

I remember walking into a packed room, with people standing at the back, and the buzz of excitement and anticipation as the session began. It was an evening with everything from panel discussions and original research to a poetry recital. Showing, in just a few hours, the amount of work to be done and the appetite of people to do it. It was an exhilarating, historic, inspiring and deeply moving milestone for the MRS. The success of that event was followed by the launch of the CEO Inclusion Pledge and the formation of the Diversity, Inclusion and Equality (DI&E) Council – brilliantly chaired by Babita Earle – and the establishment of further industry community groups and networks, such as WIRe, CORe and MRS Unlimited.

Diverse representation matters because it leads us to be better at our work. For example, I have watched with admiration as MRS board members such as Rebecca Cole have led on enquiries into topics such as “what is meant by a ‘nationally representative’ sample?” Just one among many challenging questions around inclusion that potentially make research more complex and costly, but must be addressed if the term is to remain credible. It takes courage and commitment to delve into the accepted practices of the industry, and the MRS board has demonstrated its willingness to grab hold of the difficult stuff that takes time and dedication to change.

Another highlight for me was my involvement in selecting the recipient of the President’s Medal each year. Reading each of the submissions was always fascinating, and it was tough to make the call on who would be the overall winner. Part of the challenge was assessing the sheer range of issues being tackled, from research looking into election rigging and manipulation strategies in Africa, to the impact of penal architecture on prisoners and prison staff. Meticulous and groundbreaking investigations that didn’t fit easily into any traditional research category, yet demonstrated the vital role it plays in solving world problems.

The summer date I always looked forward to attending was the annual awarding of MRS Fellowships – an occasion when individuals with illustrious careers in every corner of the industry were recognised and celebrated. The ceremony was always skillfully presented by the witty double-act of Professor Paddy Barwise and Peter York. Traditionally held in the Paternoster Chop House at its old address, which always amused me once I recognised it as the location for Channel 4’s programme First Dates, there was always so much mutual respect and admiration in the room.

In a world where trust in our institutions, media and brands has been declining steadily, the role of research practitioners in providing trustworthy data and insight has never been more important. I step down as your president confident that the MRS will continue to provide the invisible threads that bind together our world-leading research practitioners. In particular because it is better placed than it was before to access, understand, and represent all voices in the UK. I shall continue to cheer you on from the back of the room.