UK2070 Commission

The UK2070 Commission is pleased to announce that Professor Michael Henson, a longstanding and esteemed UK2070 Commissioner, has been appointed Vice Chair for International Strategy and Partnerships. Professor Henson will assume this pivotal role with immediate effect. This strategic appointment was made by Professor Cecilia Wong, Chair of the UK2070 Commission, in recognition of the continuing role that Professor Henson has in advancing the Commission’s mission both in the UK and on the global stage.

Professor Henson also serves as Chair of the UK2070 Commission Taskforce Programme for the UK and South Africa, a critical platform fostering bilateral collaboration and mutual growth. He has successfully led seven international trade and bilateral missions, strengthened strategic ties and advancing the UK2070 Commission’s vision of achieving equitable and sustainable economic development.

Professor Henson’s wealth of expertise in international relations, particularly his work with key partners like Turner & Townsend and his involvement in high-profile climate and innovation initiatives in South Africa, will further amplify the Commission’s reach and impact worldwide.

Commenting on the appointment, Professor Cecilia Wong said: 

Professor Michael Henson’s exceptional leadership and strategic insight have been instrumental in driving our international collaborations. His experience and commitment to fostering meaningful partnerships will be invaluable as we continue to address regional disparities and promote sustainable growth on a global scale.

The UK2070 Commission remains dedicated to its mission of tackling regional inequalities and fostering resilient communities through robust partnerships and innovative strategic initiatives. Professor Henson’s leadership in international strategy will play a key role in realizing this vision.

The UK2070 Commission is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Cecilia Wong as the new Chair of the UK2070 Commission. Professor Wong brings a wealth of expertise and an exceptional track record in urban and regional development to this prestigious role.

Professor Cecilia Wong is a distinguished academic and an esteemed Professor of Spatial Planning and Co-Director of Policy@Manchester at the University of Manchester. She is a Fellow of both the Academy of Social Sciences and the Royal Town Planning Institute, highlighting her significant contributions to the field. In addition to her academic achievements, Professor Wong has served different assessment roles for the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), including as the Chair of the Research Approvals and Data Acquisition Committees of the Urban Big Data Centre and the UK Research Excellence Framework assessments.

Her extensive experience extends beyond academia, having worked closely with various UK government bodies, the ESRC, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Homes and Communities Agency, and the Lyons Independent Housing Review. Her advisory roles to the European Commission on the Urban Audit II and to UN-Habitat on the City Prosperity Index underscore her global influence and commitment to sustainable urban development.

Currently, Professor Wong is engaged in a 5-year UK Preventive Research Partnership funded project of tackling the root cause of health inequalities and urban planning decision-making. She was also the Principal Investigator of a joint ESRC and the China Natural Science Foundation project on eco-urbanisation, promoting sustainable development. Her work continues to shape policies and practices, driving forward the agenda of creating sustainable, prosperous urban environments.

Professor Wong’s appointment as Chair of the UK2070 Commission marks a significant milestone for the organisation. Her leadership and vision are expected to further the Commission’s goals of addressing regional inequalities and promoting a more balanced and equitable development across the UK.

On her appointment, Professor Wong commented, “I am honoured to take on the role of Chair of the UK2070 Commission. I look forward to working with my Commissioners to tackle the pressing issues of regional disparities and to drive forward sustainable and inclusive growth across the UK.”

The UK2070 Commission looks forward to the strategic direction and innovative approaches that Professor Wong will bring to the role, building on the Commission’s existing work and expanding its impact.

Professor Cecilia Wong

Teesside University’s dedication to global sustainability initiatives has been further solidified following a trade mission to South Africa which resulted in a new research and teaching partnership.

The visiting delegation from Teesside formed part of the UK2070 Commission’s Taskforce programme and set out to highlight the University’s and the Teesside Taskforce’s commitment to deepening academic and commercial ties between the UK and South Africa.

The UK2070 Commission is an independent inquiry into national and regional inequalities in the UK. In 2020, as part of the Commission, a Teesside Taskforce was set up to examine how certain sectors could increase quality job opportunities in the Tees Valley, with a framework focussed on green growth through global partnerships.

This latest mission to South Africa, co-led by Taskforce Chair Professor Michael Henson and Vice-Chair Professor Steve Cummings, marks the seventh expedition facilitated by this partnership, each laying critical groundwork for robust academic and trade relationships.

These missions have not only strengthened ties with several South African universities but have also opened avenues for joint research and innovative solutions to address urgent global challenges. Building on the momentum of previous engagements, including the 2023 visit by South African delegates to Teesside’s Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre, the latest mission involved site visits in Mpumalanga and discussions with organisations including the Presidential Climate Commission and the Department for Science and Innovation.

Through this latest mission a partnership with Tshwane University of Technology was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding. This partnership is set to enhance joint research and teaching efforts, including joint PhDs, and offer extensive opportunities for student placements and projects.

Professor Michael Henson, Chair of the UK2070 Taskforce Programme, said: “Our partnerships extend beyond mere formal agreements; they are motivated by a shared commitment to a sustainable future. The UK2070 Taskforce programme is critical in our international endeavours, demonstrating the powerful effect of global cooperation in addressing the most urgent challenges facing the world.”

Dr Vathi Papu-Zamxaka, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation & Engagement at Tshwane University of Technology added: “The Tshwane University of Technology is delighted to collaborate with UK2070 Taskforce and Teesside University to bridge the gap between academia and real-world application, fostering growth and development.”

Through these sustained efforts, Teesside University continues to stand at the forefront of international education and research, driving forward the global sustainability agenda.

Professor Steve Cummings, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), reflected on the University’s role in these global initiatives, “Teesside University is committed to fostering academic and research excellence on a global scale. I am thrilled to see our ongoing partnerships in South Africa flourish, combining our collective expertise to pave the way for a sustainable and prosperous future.

Baroness Judith Blake CBE will take on the role as chair UK2070 Commission following the death of Lord Kerslake.

Baroness Blake is currently a Life Peer in the House of Lords and the UK2070 Commission deputy chair – appointment with immediate effect.

LORD KERSLAKE 

Chair UK2070 Commission

UK2070 commission express our deepest sorrow to the passing of UK2070 Chair Lord Bob Kerslake. 

Bob will remain in our hearts and memory forever. Our deepest condolences to the family and friends. 

Philip McCann at the University of Manchester, who is also a UK2070 Commissioner, has recently produced the report ‘Levelling-up Economics’. 

The UK interregional productivity inequalities are nowadays widely recognised as posing some of the greatest challenges to our economy, society, and governance systems. However, attention to, and concern about, these regional development issues is a very recent phenomenon in the UK. The nature and consequences of the UK’s economic geography for its national economic performance were barely considered in mainstream economic thinking until very recently, reflecting the fact that as a polity, the UK and its institutions have, until just a few years ago, largely failed to consider the UK as having a serious regional problem. Even now, most economic policymakers and institutions at the very highest levels are belatedly struggling to comprehend the scale and complexities of the challenges ahead. Moreover, the role that UK-specific governance and institutional issues may have played in exacerbating the regional problem have also been largely outside of the narratives and debates in mainstream UK economics. Prior to the EU Referendum shocks of 2016, very few economists understood the scale of the problem (McCann, 2016), and it is only the political shocks associated with Brexit that have placed these issues centre-stage in UK policy and political debates. Unfortunately, in the meanwhile, this has allowed non-economic narratives, sometimes with little or no real substance, to flourish and drive the political economy of levelling up and devolution. For the sake of future good policy and institutions, UK economics must seriously engage with the regional question.

The UK2070 Commission held an End of Year Reception last week, 24 November 2022, in the House of Lords.  Lord Kerslake gave an overview of The Commissions work.

New University programme will give insight into public policy

Teesside University has launched a NEW PROGRAMME that brings together civic and political leaders to give students an insight into the impact of public policy.

The UK2070 Commission expresses its deep sadness at the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She dedicated her long life to public service and will be mourned by many people across the UK and around the world. Our condolences and thoughts are with the Royal Family.

The Crook Public Service Fellowships at the University of Sheffield was established by Emeritus Professor ADH Crook. It provides opportunities for future leaders in public and not-for-profit sectors to immerse themselves in a collaborative project on a pressing policy issue or challenge – taking short periods away from their day job.

Each year, the Crook Public Service Fellowships focus on a particular theme that aligns with the strategic priorities and academic strengths of the University.

The recent Crook Fellowship Programme (University of Sheffield) centred around four key themes of the UK2070 Agenda for Action:

• Greater devolution of powers and funding including creating four new super-regional economic development agencies.

• Action to harness new technologies and strengthen local economies.

• A spatial plan to guide the future development of the whole of the UK.

• Long-term investment through a new National Renewal Fund to rebalance the economy over a 25-year period.

The Fellowship has given permission to publish two of the papers as part of Series 6 of the UK2070 papers.

Paper 6.1 by Daniel Timms and Aiden While, from Metro Dynamics, focuses on using a range of data sources to understand economic vulnerability. This will help policymakers to build resilience in places to economic shocks, and inform the investment that is needed to underpin this, linked with UK2070 Commission proposals for a National Renewal Fund.

Paper 6.2 by Zoë Billingham, Head of Policy and Engagement at the Centre for Progressive Policy, addresses the theme of greater devolution of powers and funding in the UK and will entail an analysis of its impacts on inequality. Addressing a key gap in evidence around the impacts of Mayoral combined authorities, she will seek to make concrete proposals as to what powers, accountabilities or funding should be devolved next.