YPERN 2025 conference delivers breakthrough collaboration between Yorkshire’s academic and policy leaders
Major regional summit showcases innovative partnership model, driving economic growth and social impact across Yorkshire and the Humber.
The Yorkshire & Humber Policy Engagement and Research Network (Y-PERN) successfully hosted its 2025 conference at the University of Huddersfield on the 27th June, bringing together leading academics, policymakers, and practitioners to forge new pathways for evidence-based regional development.
Welcoming approximately 200 delegates, the day-long summit featured high-profile speakers including Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire; Professor Tim Thornton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Huddersfield; Harpreet Uppal MP; and conference chair Kersten England MBE, Engagement Director for Y-PERN.
Devolution Creates New Opportunities for Academic-Policy Partnership
Opening the morning sessions, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin emphasised devolution's transformative potential, noting: "Our 12 fantastic higher education institutions are working hand-in-glove with our innovative businesses to forge our own future."
The first roundtable brought together Dave Petley, University of Hull VC and Chair of Yorkshire Universities; Stian Westlake, Executive Chair of the Economic and Social Research Council; Kate Josephs, CEO of Sheffield City Council; and Mark Casci, Head of Policy and Representation at West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce to explore how devolved powers are creating unprecedented opportunities for regional academic engagement.
Kate Josephs, CEO from Sheffield City Council said: “I think what devolution offers is a new opportunity for universities partnering with local governments, with regional governments, with businesses, with other educational institutions to really start to weave together a programme of research that can be practical, that can change things and that have even greater impact.”
The second session of the conference focused on how real-world collaboration can drive regional growth and impact. Speakers discussed the significance of places, and partnerships in driving policy change, and the importance of sharing lessons learned and strategies for building stronger collaborations. It was chaired by Natalie Allen, Head of Business Partnerships within Research and Enterprise Services at Leeds Beckett University, and speakers included Peter O'Brien, Executive Director at Yorkshire Universities; Kate Mieske, Director of Insight at South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA); Dr. Jatinder Singh Mehmi, Commissioner at the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission; and Robin Tuddenham, CEO of Calderdale Council.
Interactive workshops proved particularly dynamic as stakeholders collaborated on pressing regional issues, including: early years and childcare, community engagement, business support, and housing security.
The closing panel, "Where Next? The Future of Regional Policy Engagement," brought together Kersten England CBE; Sarah Chaytor, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN); Prof. Rebecca Riley, Co-Director of the City-Region Economic Development Institute (City-REDI); Jon Gleek, Head of Service – Policy, Insight and Change at Doncaster Council; and Kayleigh Renberg-Fawcett, Programme Manager, Y-PERN. The panel emphasised how Y-PERN utilises the expertise and skills of the region’s 15,000 academics to tackle local challenges while also exploring how Yorkshire's model could inform both regional and national engagement strategies.
The conference showcased Y-PERN's track record of successful initiatives, including the Yorkshire Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP) and Yorkshire & Humber Office for Data Analytics (YHODA), demonstrating the network's ability to create lasting institutional innovations that benefit the region.
Y-PERN recently published their Impact Report which showcases three years of collaboration between Yorkshire and the Humber’s universities and policymakers that has transformed evidence-based decision-making.
Photo shows Kayleigh Renberg- Fawcett, Senior Programme Manager, Y-PERN; Professor Tim Thornton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield; Harpreet Uppal, Labour MP for Huddersfield; Councillor Carole Pattison, Kirklees council; Dr Andy Mycock, Chief Policy Fellow, Y-PERN; Kersten England, Chief executive officer of the City Of Bradford Metropolitan District Council and Engagement Director, Y-PERN; Professor Andy Brown, Y-PERN Academic Director, Professor in Economics and Political Economy, University of Leeds; Peter O'Brien, Executive Director, Yorkshire Universities.
