Prof Sam Hickey becomes Head of the Global Development Institute
Sam is joined by a new GDI Management team which will serve until 2026.
has taken up the role of Head of the Global Development Institute. Sam follows on from who completed his term at the end of March.
Sam will oversee both the strategic direction and the day to day running of the institute over the next three years. He will also oversee the first cohort of undergraduates at the Institute who will begin the BSc Global Development this September.
Sam鈥檚 research focuses on the politics of development including issues of state capacity and elite commitment, natural resource governance, gender equity and the politics of social protection and social justice.
He is currently Deputy CEO of the , a six-year programme funded by FCDO, which seeks to generate new insights and approaches to tackle complex problems in Africa鈥檚 rapidly changing cities, and enable them to become more productive, equitable and inclusive. He previously, served as joint Director of Research within the DFID-funded (ESID) Research Centre, which pioneered work around the politics of development, and concluded in 2019.
He is also President of the Development Studies Association, a UK based membership organisation for all those studying, researching and teaching in the field of global development. His term will end this summer.
I am delighted to be taking over as the Head of the Global Development Institute. It鈥檚 a hugely exciting time to be taking up this role, following our strong performance at REF2021 and with our first cohort of undergraduate students joining us this September. GDI is a hugely vibrant research community and I'm looking forward to working closely with these colleagues and our large and diverse groups of PhD and postgraduate students. I am immensely grateful to Khalid, and the rest of the outgoing management team, for steering the Institute through the pandemic with such professionalism and care.
Sam will be joined by a number of new members of the GDI鈥檚 Senior Management Team, who will serve until 2026. becomes Deputy Director (Teaching and Learning) alongside Deputy Director (Staff). is Director of Undergraduate Teaching and is Director of Postgraduate Teaching. is Director of Research, whilst will remain Director of the Rory and Elizabeth Brooks Doctoral College. becomes chair of the GDI Forum.