Policy Unit Team
Founder and Lead
Dr Ahmad Al-Hiari
Ahmad is a Lecturer in Leadership and Management at DMU, and a Visiting Research Fellow in Policy and Governance at the Centre for the Study of Corruption, University of Sussex. Ahmad is a member of the International Sub-Committee at The Universities Policy Engagement Network and has extensive experience conducting elite interviews with senior policymakers at ministerial levels. His research focuses on public governance and policy transfer, with particular emphasis on investigating policy failure and developing government capacity to respond to administrative challenges.
Co-Chairs
Professor Rachel Granger
Rachel is a Professor of Urban Economies, and Director of the Institute for Responsible Business and Social Justice at DMU. She works directly on regional economic strategies like smart cities, urban innovation districts, creative/digital scale-ups, and advanced manufacturing – currently advising 8 combined authorities across England/Wales on developing civic capital and innovation ecosystems.
Professor Tine Van Bortel
Tine is a Professor of Global Health at DMU and Director of Research in Global Public Health at the Cambridge Institute of Public Health. She has extensive expertise in mental health, health policy, community-based interventions, and participatory approaches. Tine leads major global mental health research programmes examining quality of care, human rights, policy implementation, and workplace mental health across institutions like the University of Cambridge, WHO, and World Economic Forum.
Professor Mario Gongora
Mario is a Professor in Applied Intelligent Systems at DMU. He leads the Research in Societal Enhancement (RiSE) interdisciplinary group comprised by academics and experts from all faculties at DMU, international Universities and companies. RiSE has an excellent track record in applying the outcomes of their research in AI to supporting society, equality, and sustainability; the group is involved in high profile projects with Governments and Industry, both nationally and internationally. Mario is member by invitation of the Digital Revolution Challenge Group from the British Chambers of Commerce, as AI advisor to the policy unit. He has been invited to be advisor as well for the global air transport industry supporting IATA and ACI in their security guidelines and policy for Airports.
Policy Engagement Specialists
Laura Bea
Laura is the Head of Membership and Network Development (part time) for the Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN). She’s responsible for creating and delivering on our Member Engagement Strategy with you, our members and partners. She is also co-Chair and co-creator of the Arts and Humanities Sub-Committee, and co-chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Sub Committee (UPEN), and has produced work on how knowledge brokerage can embed EDI activities to support more diverse people and knowledges engaged in policymaking.