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Impact Ignite 2025 Conference 

Giving voice to the voices: co-creating a framework for research culture change

Conference Dates: 25th – 26th November 2025

 

Written by:

Lisa Backwell, InFrame community knowledge analyst, University of Edinburgh

 

In November, I had shared our emerging insights from our analysis of the Culture Catalyst Fund applications at Impact Ignite 2025. This work explores how our research communities conceptualise, experience and enact collegial leadership, what they value in leadership, what works and importantly what doesn’t.

Illustration of a diverse group of people shown in colourful silhouette profiles, with overlapping speech bubbles above them in different colours, symbolising dialogue, shared voices, and collective communication.

I had a fantastic 2 days, meeting impact professionals from across the globe. My key takeaway was that research engagement and relationship building is so important for driving impact - this is not new. Our thematic analysis of applications to the Culture Catalyst Fund highlighted that although engagement work demonstrates important collegial leadership and boundary work, it is still often experienced as an add-on to day-to-day research activities, or felt undervalued in recognition and reward structures. The conference highlighted the synergies between the cultural challenges being addressed through our 26 CCF projects, and the barriers impact professionals face, both as members of the research community and the assessment systems they navigate. Delegates also shared a number of interesting resources, including the ‘Impact Toolbox’ from Erasmus University Rotterdam, which provides guidance on defining, planning and evaluating impact.

Simple illustrated diagram showing a cyclical process with three stages—Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation—connected by arrows. Each stage is represented by small line‑drawn figures and symbols, suggesting collaboration, observation, and reflection as part of an ongoing impact or learning cycle.

 

 

 

 

First published: 12 January 2026

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Promotional graphic for Impact Ignite 2025 with the conference title “From Ideas to Action: Practical Research Impact,” taking place on 25–26 November 2025 at Novotel Southampton, UK, displayed over a softly blurred background of an event audience.

Impact Ignite Conference 2025

Impact Toolbox