We are pleased to announce the appointment of new Co-Chairs for the REF Forum with Debbie Savage and Richard Bibb joining Kamini Vellodi to oversee activity.
Our Co-Chairs bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the REF Forum:
Debbie Savage is the Associate Dean for Research at Cardiff School of Art and Design. She has supported Art and Design research assessment submissions since 2008 and is currently co-leading Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Unit 32 REF 2029 submission. Debbie Savage | Cardiff Metropolitan University
Richard Bibb is Professor of Medical Applications of Design and Associate Dean Research at Nottingham School of Art & Design, Nottingham Trent University. He has previously held research leadership roles in the School of Design & Creative Arts, Loughborough University (including terms as Associate Dean Research and Acting Dean) and Cardiff Metropolitan University. He has been involved in leading REF returns to Art & Design Units of Assessment in 2008, 2014 and 2021.
Kamini Vellodi is the Head of Painting at the Royal College of Art, London. She was previously Director of Research and Senior Lecturer in Contemporary art practice and theory at Edinburgh College of Art and led the University of Edinburgh's Unit 32 REF 2021 submission.
CHEAD established a REF Forum in 2024 to support member institutions and advocate for art and design research in relation to the Research Excellence Framework.
Through bi-monthly meetings, the REF Forum brings together UoA leads and research managers from the range of REF Units of Assessment where art and design research might be returned (including UoAs 13, 33, and 34 as well as 32). The REF Forum enables sharing of practice and technical understanding of REF criteria, processes, and frameworks to develop REF-literacy in the art and design sector. The REF Forum is also an advocacy vehicle to promote the needs and recognition of research in the creative disciplines in quality audit mechanisms more broadly.
If you would like to join the REF Forum please complete this short form to be added to the meetings schedule.