Dan Richards-Doran
I’m a senior communications professional with 18 years’ experience managing communications and engagement for science and innovation.
My story
After growing up on the family beef farm, I ventured off to university to study medical microbiology. Alongside all the theory and practicals, I quickly discovered a passion for writing about science for lots of different audiences, and getting involved in schools outreach.
The majority of my career has since involved managing communications, public engagement and event programmes for some of the UK’s biggest and most well-known scientific organisations, including the British Science Association and the University of Oxford.
To date, my highlights have been:
- designing and delivering National Science & Engineering Week for several years – the UK’s largest annual celebration of science and engineering,
- leading communications for a UK Government priority trial of Covid-19 treatments,
- writing a whole host of research press releases and achieving national and international media coverage, including in the Guardian, BBC, The Times, Daily Mail, and BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, to name a few,
- co-authoring two peer-reviewed research papers about stakeholder engagement with research,
- working to professionalise and embed communications as a strategic management function and recruiting and supporting specialist teams,
- supporting research and innovation that has, and still is, making a massive difference to people’s lives!
In 2023, I started offering executive coaching to broaden how I help individuals and organisations to unlock their potential to succeed.
I’ll leave you to explore my LinkedIn profile to find out more about my experience and qualifications.
My approach
I approach every new project with two things:
- a smile – I love new challenges and meeting new people,
- a goal – to deliver high-quality, trustworthy and strategic work.
I’m a writer at heart, so I’m always looking to understand what new research means to people – whether that’s you, your partners or the wider community!
Having mainly worked in the not-for-profit sector, I’m driven by the purpose of supporting organisations that work to make a positive difference to society and our planet.
