Ulster University today announces the appointment of Dr Stephen Farry and Dr Jodie Carson. They join Ulster University to co-lead the creation of a new Ulster University Strategic Policy Unit.
Combining their considerable experience in policy and strategy and their innate understanding of the political, economic and social landscape, the Unit will offer influential strategic policy analysis in a public-facing space.
This new Unit will work across campuses and faculties, complementing and harnessing the subject-specific policy centres already long-established at Ulster. With a focus on policy in practice, it will enable even greater collaboration between academia and political and governmental stakeholders and critically and impartially inform the environment for public policy discussion in Northern Ireland and beyond.
On his appointment, Stephen Farry said:
“This marks a new chapter in my career – a departure from party politics. It is a new and exciting opportunity for me to continue to make a significant contribution to society by addressing some of the biggest challenges both here in Northern Ireland and further afield. I am particularly pleased to be joining an institution that has a long-established track record of playing a leading part in advances that are helping to build sustainable futures and improve the quality of life for us all through its research and impact.
“It is increasingly evident that rising populism and polarisation within politics creates barriers to the collaborative, consensual solutions that we so desperately need to address significant socio-economic, environmental and geopolitical pressures. I agree with Ulster University leaders that there is a critical role for academia in addressing such issues. I can’t wait to get started.”
Stephen has enjoyed a long and important career, spending 30 years in political life, including as a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2007 to 2019, and subsequently as a Member of Parliament. He served as Minister for Employment and Learning in the Northern Ireland Executive from 2011 to 2016. He has participated in political negotiations related to Northern Ireland from the Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement to the present.
Dr Farry holds a PhD in International Relations and has contributed to a number of academic publications. He was previously a Senior Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace.
Dr Jodie Carson has over two decades of experience as an economist in public policy and academia. She has a Masters and PhD in Economics/Finance and is an HEA Fellow. Jodie has a close connection to Ulster University, she was previously Senior Economist & Head of Teaching within the Economic Policy Centre and later, was the Course Director of Business Economics. During this period, she was centrally involved in the revalidation of the Business Economics degree and developed a new module which she delivered in conjunction with the then Chief Economist of EY.
In addition to academia, Dr Carson has worked in industry: in corporate banking, as a civil servant, a subject specialist researcher on committees within the NI Assembly and as a Senior Parliamentary Advisor specialising in economic and finance matters. . She was most recently Special Adviser to the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
Dr Jodie Carson added: “
I am delighted to be appointed to develop this new Strategic Policy Unit at Ulster. I have a long-standing connection to the University, having worked in the Economic Policy Centre and Business School .
“This is a seminal moment in Northern Ireland with a new Programme for Government and a forthcoming UK Government Spending Review, both of which could be transformational for this region. Through this new Strategic Policy Unit we are very much looking forward to playing our part in informing public discourse and related policy development here.”
Prof Paul Bartholomew, Vice-Chancellor at Ulster University, said:
“We’re very much looking forward to welcoming these new colleagues to Ulster. The Strategic Policy Unit aligns with our University strategy: People, Place and Partnership and will draw on both our existing outstanding academic expertise and our industry expertise, with Stephen and Jodie offering additional capacity to stimulate policy debate in key strategic areas for the benefit of society, both locally and globally. Stephen and Jodie’s considerable experience in effecting change for the benefit of communities and their extensive networks will bolster the strategic policy efforts of our already dynamic research community and help to boost our impact in finding solutions to issues affecting all of us.”
In addition to their roles in supporting the strategic aims of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, their roles also offer new opportunities for the supporting of students working in areas relevant to public policy by sharing their experience and expertise to help the University to nurture the skills in students needed to be the next generation of policy leaders.
Stephen and Jodie take up their new roles at Ulster University on Wednesday 2 October 2024.