PROFILE

Matthew Flinders, Ph.D., is professor of politics and founding director of the Sir Bernard Crick Centre at the University of Sheffield. His former roles include chair of president of the Political Studies Association (2014–2017), ESRC board member (2017–2020), and chair of the Universities Policy Engagement Network (2020–2023). He has also served as a special adviser in both the House of Lords and House of Commons, and in June 2020 he published a national review of research leadership capacity in the U.K.: Fit for the Future. A major follow-up report was published by the Higher Education Policy Institute in November 2022 and Professor Flinders continues to work with UKRI and a number of research funders in relation to talent management and leadership development strategies.

A former winner of the Harrison Prize (2002), the Richard Rose Prize (2004), WJM Mackenzie Prize (2009), and the Sam Aaronovitch Memorial Prize (2012), Professor Flinders is the author or editor of 14 books and over 200 peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters.

He has also written and presented a number of documentaries for BBC Radio 4 and is a regular contributor to the Times Higher.