The Stempra Committee is made up of professionals who work for a variety of organisations including, but not limited to universities, learned societies, and research councils. Our goal is to support members, arrange events, and offer opportunities for training so that we, as a member organisation, can discuss the current challenges and best practice in the sector.
Our Committee
Katrina Nevin-Ridley - Co-Chair
Director of Reputation for Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London
Katrina is a senior communications leader with extensive experience in press and media relations, strategic communications and public engagement across the research and innovation sector. She was previously founding Director of External Relations, Communications and Public Engagement at UK Research and Innovation. Earlier roles include Director of Communications at Genomics England, leading communications and engagement for the 100,000 Genomes Project, and Head of Media and Communications at Wellcome Trust, where she transformed media relations and strengthened global reputation.
Inês Crespo - Co-Chair
Research Communications and Engagement Lead at the University of Glasgow
Inês leads oversees research communications at the College of Science of Engineering of the University of Glasgow. She has several years of experience in research communications across fields such as environment, physics, biology and medtech.
Jade Passey - Stempra Secretary
Research and Impact Communications Manager at Breast Cancer Now
Jade has over seven years’ experience in research communications, working at universities, scientific institutes, and more recently in the charity sector. She has managed digital channels, worked in a busy press office, and now focuses on communicating research impact.
Ed Day - Treasurer
Press Officer at Science Media Centre
Ed joined the Science Media Centre in August 2022 as a press officer. He graduated University College London with a degree in Natural Sciences, and was also an intern at the SMC in 2019, and then worked for a few years in scientific publishing before making the transition to science communications.
Kasia Kokowska - Events Coordinator
Glasgow Changing Futures Communications Specialist at the University of Glasgow
Kasia provides communications expertise for Glasgow Changing Futures at the University of Glasgow, the multi‑institutional consortium Scotland Beyond Net Zero and the pan‑national Universitas 21 Nature Positive Coalition. She has a background in journalism and science communication, with 20 years of experience in higher education, including leading or contributing to communications functions in physics, biological sciences and informatics departments.
Vanessa Bismuth - Newsletter Co-ordinator
Senior Communications and Events Manager at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge
Vanessa has worked at the Cavendish Laboratory for five years, leading strategic communications, PR and high‑profile events for one of the world’s leading physics departments. Previously, she worked in senior communications roles in local government and held numerous press and media relation roles in Scotland and France.
Dan Richards-Doran - Membership Officer
Director and Senior Consultant at Campus PR & Communications
Dan joined Campus in 2023 and provides media relations support, content, strategy development and training for researchers and research organisations across the UK and Europe. He has worked in science communications since 2005, including for the University of Oxford, National Centre for the 3Rs, British Science Association, and Informa.
Grace Tyrrell - Digital Content Officer
Press Officer at UK Biobank
Grace has worked at UK Biobank for over two years, translating research for the media and across digital comms, to help participants find out how their data are advancing science. She previously worked as an intern at the SMC after graduating from University College London with an MSc in Science Communication.
Anna Purdue - Digital Content Officer
Communications Officer at RAL Space
Anna works at the UK’s national space lab, developing digital content and stories across space science, engineering, and technology development. She has had previous communications roles at the European Southern Observatory in Germany and Edinburgh-based AstroAgency.
Caitlin Higgott - Committee Member
Communications and Engagement Manager at the Rosalind Franklin Institute
Caitlin joined to the Franklin in 2020 and now leads communications team there. She works closely with the Franklin’s scientists to develop engaging stories making their complex scientific research accessible for a wide variety of audiences. Before joining the Franklin, she completed her PhD in ecology at the University of Sheffield.
Clare Green - Committee Member
Media and Communications Officer at the Francis Crick Institute
Clare has worked at the Crick for over two years, promoting research papers and news on Crick channels and in the external media. She previously worked in the press team at Alzheimer’s Society, focusing on dementia research and policy, and at Science Gallery London, communicating art and science to visitors.
Alex Durk - Committee Member
Communications Manager at Springer Nature
Alex has been working in science communications for the last six years. Currently, he helps promote the research content from a portfolio of around 3,000 journals to the global news media, as well as working on research integrity issues. Prior to this, he worked at the UK’s Science Media Centre for four years, where he was responsible for the internship programme, amongst other things.