FLIER cohort 3

FLIER is aimed at those in the middle of their career, established within their own sector with the seniority to effect organisational, cultural and inclusive change. They will have an emerging vision of how cross-sector working and collaboration could help maximise opportunities and solve the future challenges of research and healthcare. They will be looking to explore, influence and shape their vision in dialogue with colleagues across sectors.

We are looking for key characteristics including motivation, vision and potential to make a difference and lead change across the sectors, learning agility, and creative, innovative and radical thinking.

View the profiles of our first and second cohorts.

The programme was developed by a cross-sector Taskforce of current leaders, and is delivered in partnership with bespoke leadership, talent and engagement specialists Cirrus.

The two-year programme brings together cohorts of emerging leaders drawn from across academia, industry, the NHS, regulators, science media writers, government/policy organisations and entrepreneurs. The journey includes:

• Residential and one-day meetings will expose candidates to current national and international leaders across the wider scientific and health ecosystem
• Face-to-face and virtual workshops
• Regular tailored coaching sessions from professionals at the fore-front of leadership development
• Mentorship from a research leader
• Bespoke financial management training
• Cross-sector immersion experiences with an array of other organisations
• The second year will involve a cross-sector activity. This will be an opportunity to apply acquired strategic and higher-level operational skills to a work-based project while being supported by colleagues, a coach and a mentor.

Participants will be selected by a competitive process:

• Completion of an online application form, including submission of a short video clip.
• Review of the application forms and videos to shortlist for interview.
• Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a short psychometric assessment, to inform the interview panel’s questions. Personal feedback on psychometric assessment from qualified coaches will be offered following interviews.
• Interview of shortlisted candidates.

Application guidelines and a sample application forms can be found under the 'Downloads' section on the right hand side of the page. 

Interviews are to be held virtually between Tuesday 26 April to Friday 13 May. If shortlisted to interview, we will contact you to find a date that is suitable for you to attend.

Notification of decisions regarding FLIER applications will be made by Friday 27 May 2022. Successful applicants will be asked to complete a full psychometric assessment to inform the first leadership training workshop.

Current members of the FLIER Taskforce are:

• Professor Paul Stewart FMedSci (Interim Chair), Professor of Medicine and Health Policy Adviser to the Vice Chancellor, University of Leeds
• Dr Ian Abbs, Chief Executive and Chief Medical Director, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust 
• Dr Niina Kolehmainen, Reader in Allied Child Health, Newcastle University 
• Dr Melanie Lee FMedSci,Chief Executive Officer, LifeArc
• Professor Lorna Marson, Professor of Transplant Surgery and Honorary Consultant Transplant Surgeon, University of Edinburgh
• Professor Jane Norman FMedSci, Dean for the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol
• Professor Duncan Richards, Climax Professor of Clinical Therapeutics, University of Oxford
• Professor Katherine Sleeman, Laing Galazka Chair in Palliative Care and NIHR Clinician Scientist, King's College London
• Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu FMedSci, Professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience, University College London