Who we are

As a network of networks, Y-PERN brings together researchers, policy makers and wider society to support inclusive, place-based policy making in the region.

Y-PERN’s core team is comprised of a passionate team of Policy Fellows, hosted across Yorkshire’s universities, spanning a range of academic backgrounds, working directly with policy makers across local and combined authorities.

They are supported through a Yorkshire & Humber wide academic steering group, a regional university knowledge exchange group and a strategic advisory board, and are connected into regional governance and infrastructure through the Yorkshire Universities Board and Yorkshire & Humber Councils Leaders Board.

To view Y-PERN’s directorate, click here

Policy Fellow Team

Policy Fellows work between their dedicated policy partner(s) and universities to support research policy collaboration and knowledge mobilisation at a local and regional scale.

Andy Mycock

Chief Policy Fellow

Andy leads on the coordination of the team of Y-PERN policy fellows across the region, and the delivery and evaluation of the four programme Work Packages. He has responsibility for delivering Work Package 3 which focuses on policy engagement training, dissemination, and community engagement. Andy is the key contact point for engagement and networking with academic and policy communities across Yorkshire and the UK more widely, and dissemination of Y-PERN outputs.

Chau Chu

University of Leeds

Chau’s role involves providing data and quantitative analysis for West-Yorkshire authorities in delivering strategic local plans. Her policy work is on a range of different topics such as nowcasting for West-Yorkshire economic output and housing retrofit, which have successfully contributed to place-based evidence-informed policymaking of the region. Apart from that, she also pursues other research interests in financial economics, regional institutions, and informal economy.

Tom Haines-Doran

West Yorkshire Combined Authority //
University of Leeds

Tom is primarily responsible for policy engagement and research involving the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and local authorities in West Yorkshire. Tom’s priority areas of focus are working with WYCA on their economic strategy, particularly in relation to childcare, the informal economy and the future of work. Tom anticipates that this engagement on the economic plan will pave the way for additional collaborative work between WYCA and academics across the Yorkshire & Humber.

Tom’s expertise lies in sustainability, social movements, and transport with a focus on political and economic challenges and changes within each topic.

Rebecca Kerr

York City Council, North Yorkshire Council //
University of York (and York St John University)

Rebecca is responsible for supporting on evidence needs of York City Council and North Yorkshire Council. Key areas of focus include female entrepreneurship, free school meals, housing and supporting the region’s transition to a new Mayoral Combined Authority. Rebecca works closely with organisations in the region, including the Federation of Small Businesses

Rebecca is an expert on qualitative research methods and political sociology. She is experienced with participatory research methods. Her topic interests include education, housing and waste prevention.

Dan Olner

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority //
University of Sheffield

Dan collaborates closely with the South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority (SYMCA) to provide data-driven insights, theoretical foundations, and evidence essential for advancing the mayoral priorities and the growth strategy of SYMCA. His role entails the meticulous collection of evidence from various sources, including exemplary data systems used in regional and local governance models in the US, Europe, and the UK. This effort is aimed at enhancing the region’s decision-making processes and contributing to the realisation of strategic objectives.

Dan is an expert on economic and quantitative geography, data science, politics and international relations. His topic interest revolves around how data can be used in decision making, and how data-based evidence can be used to avoid blind spots.

University leads

The university representatives across the 12 Yorkshire & Humber higher education institutions. The leads support the Policy Fellows and work across Y-PERN’s four objectives.