Reimagining Governance for a Flourishing Research Culture

Partnering with Durham University to Drive Inclusive Research Leadership

Durham University wanted to make the composition of its research committees more diverse and their committee culture more inclusive, in line with their EDI objectives. The university recognised that most committees were composed of ex officio members often appointed because they hold similar or related positions elsewhere rather than because of their innate suitability to the role at hand. Evidence suggests this practice leads to board insularity, inflexible working practices, groupthink and a lack of diversity which in turn can result in less effective decision making and a poor research culture overall.

Durham University wanted to lay foundations for better decision-making, more inclusive governance practices, and enhanced connectedness between staff and leadership.

Our Approach

Formation led the design and implementation of an innovative shadow board programme, leveraging the complementary expertise of Sapna Marwaha and Dr Ambreen Shah. Our six-stage delivery involved:

• Consultation and collaborative co-design with university leaders

• Recruiting shadow participants based on both lived and practical experience, facilitated by an inclusive recruitment process

• Bespoke training and ongoing support for shadow board members

• Piloting alternative committee structures in three departments

• Throughout, we embedded equity and accessibility—removing hidden hurdles so more people could participate effectively.

The Impact

While the project is ongoing, early evaluations show a measurable increase in the diversity and preparedness of committee members. Pulse surveys indicate improved confidence, broader perspectives, and increased engagement across the new shadow committees.

The Shadow Committee project is part of Reimagining Governance for a Flourishing Research Culture programme. Formation is supporting this project led by Durham University and funded by the Wellcome Trust through the Institutional Fund for Research Culture.