10 years in 15 questions: an interview with the Head of Centre
The Priestley Centre for Climate Futures is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year.
Since 2016, the Priestley Centre has brought together researchers, students, partners and communities to develop real-world climate solutions.
To mark this milestone, we speak to Head of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures, Shona Smith, who explains what the Centre does and shares some of the successes and challenges that have shaped its first 10 years.
Shona also shares her vision for the next decade, provides a teaser for the upcoming celebration in June and gives insight into her love of jumping in a campervan to go and find mountains to climb...
There is so much potential here at Leeds and the volume of opportunities has grown over the past decade, with recognition of the scale of the challenges posed by climate change.
Can you describe your role in 100 words?
As Head of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures, I lead the delivery of the Centre’s research vision which is focused on working across disciplinary, professional, and institutional boundaries to enable strategic climate research development and diversification of income. I lead the Centre’s brilliant team of climate-focused professional services staff who deliver a range of initiatives and activities to support our community of staff, students, and external partners. I also act as a key link for the University’s Climate Plan delivery programme team, supporting academic engagement and opportunities for research and innovation through the Climate Plan programme.
How long have you worked at the University?
I did my degree and PhD here, as well as working as a postdoc. Then, 10 years ago, I returned to the University to join the Priestley Centre just as it was starting out. In total, I’ve spent about 20 years at the University!
What does the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures do?
We aim to ensure that climate action is informed by the latest research, collaborating with organisations and individuals to transform our expertise into real-world impact.
We do this through a range of initiatives, activities and support services we provide to the University community which are focused around:
- Knowledge exchange with the public and private sector e.g. through the work of our Climate Evidence Unit
- Engaging with international policy negotiations e.g. through our coordination of the University’s United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Task Force
- Establishing Climate Living Laboratories with partners such as the award winning Scenarios Forum Living Lab
- Professional learning and training such as the Priestley Climate Scholars programme for postgraduate researchers (PGRs) and working with academic experts to scope potential new professional learning offerings
- Supporting delivery of the University of Leeds Climate Plan e.g. through the annual review of climate plan progress and coordination of the University’s Just Transition Task Force.
How does the Priestley Centre support the University’s mission?
We are one of the University’s Futures Institutes which aim to combine research and innovation, knowledge exchange and education to deliver global impact in major global challenge areas. As a Futures Institute, we work across faculties, schools and services to enable interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary collaborations and to enhance the University’s impact on climate.
Looking back over the last 10 years, what are you most proud of?
The things I am most proud of in my work for the Priestley Centre focus on people and collaboration. I have been fortunate to be a part of teams developing large research programmes from the outset of an idea, through to getting them funded and then watching them flourish and deliver innovative research outcomes and impact. I really value being part of diverse teams and working with academics across disciplines, from different cultural perspectives, and with other professional services staff with different specialties. A highlight for me last year was working with colleagues from Conferencing and Events, Catering Services, Residencies, Communications and Engagement, and Sustainability Services alongside academics and students on a Living Lab focused on delivering a conference as sustainably as possible.
- The award-winning Scenarios Forum, 2025
What would you say have been the biggest successes for the Priestley Centre team over the last 10 years?
For me, our success is measured by how effectively we enable other people to develop and deliver excellent research, innovation and impact. We’ve done this through a range of mechanisms, such as supporting academics to develop and win funding for large programmes of research. This includes some of the first Global Challenges Research Fund Programmes, to providing capacity building and training opportunities to PGRs through the Priestley Climate Scholars programme, to supporting staff and students to engage with United Nations climate negotiations.
And similarly, what have been the biggest challenges?
There is so much potential here at Leeds and the volume of opportunities has grown over the past decade, with recognition of the scale of the challenges posed by climate change. Our biggest challenge is deciding where to focus our efforts to have maximum impact for the University community and the wider world.
As we’ve transitioned to become a Futures Institute, we’re targeting opportunities where there is unleveraged potential to create new income streams and pathways to impact. We’ve deliberately chosen to put an emphasis on growing capacity and capability to support external engagement, focusing on providing the latest evidence to decision makers in the public and private sector and working with partners in business and industry.
What is your vision for the next 10 years?
We know the pace and scale of the climate crisis requires that we respond with agility. I want to ensure that the Priestley Centre provides the support needed to ensure we can maximise the potential for impact from University of Leeds research. I also want to ensure we create a culture where we recognise and value the range of expertise and skills that people bring to the teams we bring together to drive climate action.
What is happening to mark the 10-year milestone?
We’re running a ‘Celebrating 10 years of the Priestley Centre’ campaign which will highlight the Centre’s achievements, current work and future ambitions. The campaign will focus on the people who deliver and support the amazing climate research, innovation, policy and education work at the University. The culmination of the campaign will be an event on 30 June in the School of Music with a panel discussion from leaders with different sector perspectives focused on the UK’s climate future. Look out for more announcements to follow.
How can colleagues work with the Priestley Centre?
If you’re in the University of Leeds community, firstly become a member of the Priestley Centre so that we know you’re interested. We’ll keep you updated on our activities and opportunities in the climate landscape.
We ran our first Priestley Explained session in January and the team outlined our offers to the University community. You can watch the video and see the slides on Priestley’s Staff Intranet homepage.
Regardless of whether you're internal or external to the University, if you want to work with us, you can reach out to the Priestley team. The team have a range of specialisms from research and innovation development to communications, business engagement and knowledge translation so either contact one of us directly or email the Priestley inbox.
- The Priestley Centre team
Is there something, or someone, that has inspired you in your career?
My inspiration comes from the people around me and being part of dynamic teams that respect the range of perspectives and expertise that different members bring. I love being part of the process of developing ideas for projects and initiatives with colleagues from across campus and external collaborators with different perspectives. I feel lucky that my job means I get to hear about and work on such a diverse range of topics, from how we reduce national reliance on fossil fuels, to forecasting high impact storms in Africa and much more. It’s very different from my time as a researcher when I spent a lot of time in the lab trying to fix lasers!
What’s your favourite spot on campus?
I love St George’s Field. If I am out for a walk on campus that’s where I always head. The daffodils are gorgeous at this time of year.
What do you do to relax away from work?
I love walking and climbing in the hills and mountains of the UK and Europe, so I head off in my campervan at every opportunity.
Where’s your favourite travel destination and why?
Anywhere with mountains to climb that I can get to in my van. At the moment, I am particularly enjoying Italy. So much so that I started learning Italian a couple of years ago. I love the culture and the food.
What’s your random claim to fame?
Hmm, the best I can come up with is that I was involved in a Challenge Anneka challenge as a primary school student!
For enquiries about working with the Priestley Centre please contact the team via email at [email protected].
You can also follow the Priestley Centre on LinkedIn, Bluesky and YouTube and sign up to our mailing list.