David Sweeney has been Director (Research, Innovation and Skills) since 2008.  In this role he is responsible for developing policy on Research (including the Research Assessment Exercise and Research Excellence Framework), Business & Community and Employer Engagement. He is also responsible for the London and East regional teams and for the Strategic Development Fund. A statistician, David worked at two BBSRC research institutes, developing mathematical models of plant growth then moving into senior management in the IT area, becoming Director of Information Services at Royal Holloway, University of London and serving in a national role as Chair of the Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association.  He became Vice-Principal (Communications, Enterprise and Research) in 2004, responsible for research strategy, the 2008 RAE submission and for developing Royal Holloway’s research-led commercial and consultancy activities, knowledge transfer and development programme.  He remains interested in IT and especially applications of IT in learning and research.