SHRN bids a heartfelt farewell to Professor Simon Murphy, who retires after 12 years of leadership, transforming it into a global model for school health research.
Under his tenure, SHRN has influenced over 30 national policies, shaping school health and well-being research and action in Wales and beyond.
SHRN’s achievements extend far beyond Wales. The network has been instrumental in launching partner initiatives across the UK, including SHINE in Scotland and regional school research networks in England. Internationally, SHRN’s model has guided research pilots in Namibia and Saudi Arabia, reinforcing its global impact.
In ‘Reflections From The Director: Twelve Years of SHRN’ Professor Murphy reflects on SHRN’s incredible journey, highlighting the power of partnerships in its success: ‘At its core, SHRN has always been about partnership, co-production, and translating knowledge into real-world impact’.
SHRN now enters an exciting new chapter under the leadership of Dr Kelly Morgan, who has served as the Deputy Director for several years. In her blog, ‘Looking Ahead: A Shared Vision for the Next Chapter of SHRN,’ she expresses her deep commitment to SHRN’s mission and values: ‘Our commitment to collaboration, delivering high-quality data, and co-producing impactful work with schools will continue to be central to our mission’ .
Dr Morgan expertise in public health research will focus on school health and well-being interventions and data linkage. She has led SHRN’s expansion into primary schools, amplifying younger learners’ voices in the network. Moving forward, she will oversee:
- The launch of an innovative school-level dashboard for secondary schools, providing customised insights to empower educators.
- Strengthening partnerships between schools, policymakers, and researchers to drive evidence-based improvements in learner health and well-being.
- Continued global collaborations, building on SHRN’s international impact to expand school health initiatives worldwide.
SHRN remains committed to its mission of driving research-informed and evidence-based improvements in school health and well-being. With a strong leadership transition, the network is poised for further growth and impact.
Read more:
– Professor Simon Murphy’s reflections on 12 years of SHRN’s journey and impact
– Dr Kelly Morgan’s vision for the next chapter of SHRN and the exciting future ahead.
