As of March 2026, this website is no longer being updated. I now work mainly on climate issues, especially in Brighton and Hove, and new work can be found on the website of Climate:Change, our independent think-tank on socially inclusive action in the City: www.climatechangebh.org.uk.
Meanwhile, however, this website has over 850 entries, mostly representing my work on international development from 2010-2025. Among much else, there are over 50 book reviews, more than 20 papers and training cases on bridging research and policy and on managing think-tanks, nearly 100 articles on climate change, and many papers on other topics, including aid, food security and nutrition, and the future of international development. See ‘Topics and Themes’ for more details. I can be reached at sm@simonmaxwell.net.
Planning for the future and managing change in research institutes and think tanks
Planning for the future and managing change in research institutes and think tanks, EADI Newsletter 1 - 2008
Look around the EADI community of research institutes and centres, and most of them are run by academics. Look through the in-tray of those individuals, or better the e-mail in-box, and most of what we deal with day-to-day is about finance, people, relationship management and institutional development. That's fine, of course. It goes without saying that EADI member institutions are admirably led, without exception, despite or because of the academic background of most of those who end up as directors. But the range of challenges in the in-box can come as a surprise; and, certainly, the learning curve is steep. Who do we talk to? How do we learn?................. (see link in title for full article)