Impact is for life, not just for REF with Kirsty High and Sean McCaul (Episode 84) – Kirsty and Sean are igniting research impact through relationships and resources (Recorded live at Impact Ignite 2025)
This special extended episode of the Research Adjacent podcast was recoded live at Impact Ignite 2025 with guest’s Sean McCaul and Kirsty High.
Kirsty High is Research Impact Manager at the independent research institution, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Sean McCaul is a faculty impact officer at Ulster University. Both are responsible for overseeing and supporting impact, but with different drivers and priorities.
Sarah, Kirsty, and Sean talk about
- How supporting impact in a university compares to an independent research institute
- The power of embedding impact rather than seeing it as the ‘icing on the cake’
- Why trust and long-term relationships with researchers are key
- Practical ways to spark impact including seed funding and cross-disciplinary peer learning
Timestamps
- [00:02:34] Introducing guests Kirsty High and Sean McCaul.
- [00:05:03] Kirsty on her day-to-day role of helping scientists tell their impact stories
- [00:07:16] Sean explains Ulster’s Impact Development Series and internal impact funding
- [00:11:09] Why impact work is fundamentally built on long-term relationships and trust
- [00:13:38] Recognising ‘excellence in the process’ of impact beyond just the final output
- [00:14:16] Contrasting drivers: REF in universities vs. strategic delivery in research institutes
- [00:18:50] Sean’s career journey from business incubation and innovation into research impact
- [00:22:15] Kirsty’s transition from a PhD and KE fellowship to professional impact management
- [00:25:25] Proud moments: Implementing impact funds and 4-star case studies
- [00:30:47] Kirsty and Sean decide how to use their Research Adjacent magic wand
- [00:34:03] Q&A – Ged Hall asks Sean about learning from universities in the Republic of Ireland
- [00:39:31] Saskia Gent asks about the impact of short-term contracts on relationship building
- [00:45:56] Adam Lockwood asks about working across multiple professional services teams
- [00:48:15] Closing thoughts and final wrap-up from the live event
Find out more
- Connect with Kirsty on LinkedIn
- Connect with Sean on LinkedIn
- Find out more about the Impact Ignite event, the Research Impact Academy and listen to Tamika Heiden’s podcast episode
- Listen to the Hidden REF podcast episode
- Thanks to All Parties and Events for recording this episode
Theme music by Lemon Music Studios from Pixabay
