Delivering impact working with a global network: a personal perspective of the opportunities and challenges of leading across 20 time zones! Dr Emma Hennessey Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser, FCO
Leadership Challenges! Challenge #1: Getting our work valued Challenge #2: Logistics Challenge #3: Different cultures Challenge #4: Non-traditional line management structures Challenge #5: Shared ownership of the Network Challenge #6: Different stakeholders want different things
The FCO and Science? Diplomacy The profession, activity or skill of managing international relations FCO Promoting UK s interests overseas, supporting our citizens and businesses around the globe Science diplomacy Diplomacy for science Science in diplomacy Science for diplomacy
Science Diplomacy Diplomacy for science Building and nurturing relationships to help scientists MOUs, H2020 negotiations, bilateral agreements Science in diplomacy Providing advice and expertise to international colleagues Science advice during Fukushima nuclear accident Science for diplomacy UK science and innovation to open doors: soft power North Korea, Iran, Argentina
Role of the CSA: ensuring foreign policy is informed by the best available evidence Science evidence Help FCO policy leads to use scientific evidence to strengthen foreign policy development & delivery in line with Diplomatic Excellence initiative Science networks FCO-BEIS S&I Network leadership Strengthen FCO engagement with science networks Represent FCO interests in Whitehall & wider science networks bringing in international Working with FCO and BEIS, provide thought leadership and senior representation for the co-owned Science and Innovation Network
Around 90 SIN Officers in 31 countries and territories. Building S&I partnerships and collaborations between UK and host countries
Leadership Challenge #1: Getting our work valued Most diplomats are not scientists (but that s also true of most civil servants) They cannot be expected to get science I need to demonstrate how science and innovation helps FCO objectives
Solution: develop clear messages about impact 137m of business wins 115m R&D funds leveraged Played a key role on AMR leading to UNGA declaration Helped secure SKA HQ in the UK: 200m funding for Jodrell Bank Contributed to Milan Expo 653m of business wins Helped Innovate UK design loans likely to reach 165 million p.a. by 2019/20
Leadership Challenge #2: Logistics! I get into work at 9am Its 5pm in Singapore and Nicki is getting ready to leave Its 2am in San Francisco Rhona won t be awake for hours Its 6am in Brasilia and Julia s getting up Its noon in Nairobi nearly lunchtime for Serah! Its 10pm in Wellington and Steve s finished for the day
Solution: think 24 hour clock Stay late Get up early Offer options and be flexible VTC can be useful but not if people would rather be at home in PJs! Be aware that Close of Play is different for different people Set realistic deadlines/plan ahead Don t be GMT-centric
Leadership Challenge #3: different cultures We all have a different understanding of what is polite, culturally acceptable or appropriate behaviour And we are all right
Solution: watch, listen and learn
Challenge #4: Non-traditional line management structures In most offices Most working relationships involve you, your boss, your staff in a simple hierarchy, with a shared business plan Science and Innovation Network Paid for by FCO and BEIS Belong to Posts Line managed by Posts Expected to support HMG & CSAs Expected to deliver annual reports and business plans to my team
Solution: co-design strategy and collectively agree success measures Start by agreeing what success looks like: Prosperity, Security, Influence Agree a framework: UK Industrial Strategy Allow flexibility: let teams choose which areas they focus on Be pragmatic: recognise that teams need to support Post priorities too And remember that London rarely knows best
Science & Innovation Network (SIN) SIN is funded by the FCO with support from BEIS. The network has approximately 90 officers in over 30 countries and territories around the world building partnerships and collaborations on Science and Innovation. UK is a global leader in S&I. International collaboration is essential to maintaining the excellence of the UK s research base and the competitive advantage of our innovative businesses, for filling capability gaps and for ensuring value by leveraging international resources. Maintaining our science excellence (and our reputation) and supporting innovation ensures UK is partner of choice, and helps UK companies with ambitions for rapid global growth. SIN supports a number of interdisciplinary thematic programmes and SIN supports delivery of UK s top international S&I priorities, this includes the UK s forthcoming Industrial Strategy. delivers against the four objectives below. SIN s work includes horizon scanning, and analysis and reporting of international S&I policies. PROSPERITY Enhancing UK growth and exports; connecting UK innovative industries and S&I expertise with international opportunities SECURITY Delivering solutions to global and UK challenges: AMR, health, energy, oceans; enhancing global resilience INFLUENCE Strengthening foreign policy influence through S&I DEVELOPMENT Supporting international development goals Matching UK expertise to international need Thematic programmes below deliver to one or more of the objectives above A C T I V E S C O P I N G Health and Life Sciences Brazil, Canada, USA, Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, S Korea, Taiwan, Gulf, India, Israel, Africa, Benelux, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Iberia, Italy, Nordics, Poland, Russia, Switzerland Future Cities Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, S Korea, India, Africa, Germany, Turkey Quantum Tech country Japan, country Singapore, country South Korea, Benelux, France, Italy, Poland, Russia Future Manufacturing Canada, USA, Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, S Korea, Taiwan, India, Benelux, France, Germany, Iberia, Italy, Switzerland Resources Brazil, China, Israel, Benelux Food and Agriculture Brazil, USA, China, Malaysia, New Zealand, India, Israel, Africa, France, Iberia, Italy, Russia, Turkey Oceans USA, Japan, India, Africa, Germany, Clean Energy Canada, USA, Australia, China, Japan, S Korea, Taiwan, Gulf, Africa, Benelux, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Nordics, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey Space Australia, New Zealand, China, Taiwan, Africa, Poland, USA Polar Canada, Nordics, Russia, USA Digital Economy USA, China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Gulf, Czech Republic, Italy, Nordics, Poland July 2016
Challenge #5: Shared ownership of the Network Moving resources from one part of the world to another is very, VERY tricky! But it can be done Science and Innovation Network Paid for by FCO and BEIS Belong to Posts
Solution: Be patient, compromise, be clear on benefits
Challenge #6: Different stakeholders want different things Science and Innovation Network Paid for by FCO and BEIS Belong to Posts Line managed by Posts Expected to support HMG & CSAs FCO: Prosperity, Influence, impact BEIS: science excellence Posts: staff resources CSAs: science excellence, support on missions HMG: international partnerships, lobbying, information gathering Ministers: positive messages, engagement opportunities
Solution: tailor messages to the audience FCO Ministers BEIS CSAs Posts Commercial wins, diplomatic gains Announce-ables, photo opportunities, commercial wins Science excellence, S&I agreements, joint funding Collaborative agreements, access to resources Improved bilateral relations
It s a great job! Europe plays role in creating UK-Europe collaborations on low carbon research and innovation US robotics mission results on commercial wins for UK companies worth 8.8m SIN Singapore mobilises 2.4m investment in cyber security Czech Rep. helps UK-Czech laser centre win 40m in EU funding India assists to secure 1m grant for prosthetic development Poland enables Cambridge Enterprise train Polish innovators SIN makes a difference SIN supports UK s AMR and Dementia campaigns
Thank you! Any questions?