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Yolana Pringle

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 09:30:18 GMT

Yolana joined CRAC in 2023 and led the organisation's policy functions prior to her current role as Deputy CEO / Director of Programmes and Partnerships. Yolana leads CRAC-Vitae's strategic development, identifying and driving opportunities to sustain and support the charitable mission.

Yolana has particular interests and expertise in research culture, having led major sector consultations and projects in this area, including on the Research Excellence Framework (REF) People, Culture and Environment (PCE). She currently leads teams working across multiple business functions, including research and evaluation, policy and engagement, and learning and development.

Prior to joining CRAC, Yolana was an academic, working in higher education for over 10 years. Her research focused on psychiatry and mental health, with a regional focus on eastern Africa, and resulted in a book and numerous peer-reviewed articles. This background drives Yolana's interests not only in research culture and researcher development, but in equity in research and in researcher wellbeing and mental health.

Yolana holds a DPhil in Modern History from the University of Oxford and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

Clare Viney

Sat, 09 Jun 2018 23:25:03 GMT

Clare took up the role of Chief Executive Officer of CRAC in October 2016. A strategic leader with over 25 years' advocacy, policy and external affairs experience, Clare is a Chartered Scientist and Chemist with extensive experience in the science community and not-for-profit sector. She is passionate about investing in future generations and those from diverse backgrounds and experiences, empowering people to realise their potential and achieve their career and development goals.

Prior to her role at CRAC Clare was with the Royal Society of Chemistry for 16 years in a variety of roles in membership, fundraising, science policy, communications and latterly leading Membership and External Affairs.

Clare has a BSc and MPhil in chemistry from the University of Sheffield and currently sits on the UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy Advisory Board, Chairing the Technician Commitment Steering Board. She is Chair of the cross sector Career Development Policy Group and External Advisory Board of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of the University of Southampton. Plus an Advisory Board member of the following Research England funded projects; Prosper and Developing Business Aware Academics.

Robin Mellors-Bourne

Wed, 09 May 2018 09:05:37 GMT

Robin joined CRAC in 2004 as Commercial & Business Development Director, but has led its research and evaluation operations since 2009. His primary research interests include: transitions into and from higher education; career decision-making; internships, placements and work experience; careers in engineering and STEM; postgraduate and research careers; diversity and inclusion; and impact evaluation studies. He has created and led over 60 career- and HE-related research or evaluation studies, using a wide range of methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative as well as secondary data studies, with students, graduates, postgraduates, alumni and staff in HE institutions and other employment settings.
He is an expert on HE research careers and has developed the career-related evidence base that underpins the Vitae programme. He is regarded as a national expert on researcher careers data and career tracking and has represented the UK on this at international fora.