Kate Clark is Visiting Professor, Heritage Valuation at the University of Suffolk. She is an industrial archaeologist who has worked in senior leadership roles in museums and heritage in the UK and Australia. She was CEO of Cadw, Director of Sydney Living Museums and Deputy Director of Policy & Research at the NHLF as well as working with English Heritage. She pioneered thinking about significance and public value in heritage in the 2000s and has published extensively on heritage values and sustainability. Her latest book ‘Playing with the Past’ contains c.80 activities and games to help students and practitioners develop skills in working with communities and understanding what they value.

Paul Cairney is Professor of Politics and Public Policy, University of Stirling. His research interests are in comparative public policy, policy analysis, and policy theories, applied to UK and devolved government policy, and the use of evidence in policy and policymaking.

Paul has been funded by the Economic and Social Research Council to research the policymaking process in Scotland, focusing on areas such as preventative spending, in addition to EU Horizon2020 (IMAJINE centre on territorial inequalities across Europe) to examine the ways in which governments can, and should, use evidence to learn from the success and failure of other government strategies to reduce territorial inequalities.

Paul has published 10 books (including The Politics of Evidence-Based Policymaking), 75 articles in international peer reviewed journals, and 24 chapters in edited books.

Julia joined the BFI in 2017 and is responsible for running the Research and Statistics Unit (RSU) as well as other BFI related research and evaluation. This includes production of the BFI’s Statistical Yearbook, as well as ad hoc research studies and analysis on a wide variety of topics. Current projects include Screen Business 2021, an update of the economic impact of the screen sector tax reliefs, Film in the wider world, an audience analysis of film viewing across different screens and platforms, mapping the UK Animation sector, and Horizon Scanning looking at future trends which will impact the screen sector.

Ailsa Macfarlane is Policy & Strategy Manager for Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS).

BEFS works in the built and historic environment strategic policy landscape, representing a diverse Membership ranging from small, volunteer organisations and civic scotland, to larger, professional Chartered bodies.

Ailsa has extensive experience in cultural and heritage policy development, national skills programme development and programme management. She will be discussing ‘making heritage relevant and getting traction when stats aren’t turning heads’.

Harman Sagger is Head Economist for Arts, Heritage and Tourism (AHT) for DCMS and leads a small team of analysts within the AHT directorate. Harman returned to DCMS in 2017 after 2 years as the British Film Institute’s Head of Economics. In his previous role at DCMS, he was at the heart of embedding rigorous evidence-based approach within DCMS. He has previously worked for HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs, working on a range of areas including emerging markets, globalisation, productivity, road charging and environmental taxes.