Experience from academia, business, and government
Proven experience, practical impact
Rory Duncan and DCL bring senior experience from universities, government, research funders and business-facing innovation to help organisations make better decisions, strengthen strategy, secure funding and deliver change.
Our work draws on direct experience of leading major research and innovation programmes, shaping national policy, supporting institutional transformation and working with senior leaders where the decisions are complex and the stakes are high.
Shaping policy, assessment and research environment
Our experience includes shaping research policy and funding from inside the UK system.
Rory has led work spanning research culture, talent and skills, place-based innovation, international collaboration, research funding and strategic investment, including senior roles and assignments involving UKRI, Research England and government.
That perspective helps clients understand how policy, funding and assessment are changing, and what those changes mean in practice.
DCL supports institutions with REF2029, SPRE, research environment strategy and evidence, funding strategy and institutional research capability. We help leaders connect external policy and assessment requirements with the actual people, behaviours, structures and investments needed to deliver them.
The aim is not simply to respond to an assessment framework, but to build the research environment and capability that the framework is intended to recognise.
Supporting leaders, institutions and businesses
DCL works with universities, research organisations and innovative businesses at moments of leadership transition, strategic review, funding opportunity and delivery pressure.
Rory works with Vice-Chancellors and executive teams, research and innovation leaders, senior professional services leaders, funders and business leaders to turn research and innovation ambition into credible action.
Support can include confidential senior advisory and mentoring, SPRE and REF2029 readiness, research strategy, research income and portfolio development, research and knowledge exchange operating models, governance, impact, business engagement and the alignment of academic leadership with professional services delivery.
Recent DCL work has included supporting senior university leaders moving from faculty leadership into wider executive responsibility, helping them establish priorities, strengthen governance, prepare for REF, develop income and impact plans, and translate institutional ambition into delivery.
Clients value DCL's ability to cut through complexity, exercise clear judgement and provide focused senior support without lengthy consultancy processes.
This is discreet, senior-level advice grounded in direct experience of university executive leadership and the UK and international research and innovation system.
Winning funding and building capability
We have helped secure hundreds of millions of pounds in research and innovation funding across UKRI, European and philanthropic sources.
Our support ranges from major institutional and international bids to individual cases for support, strategic narratives and funding propositions. We help clients understand what funders are looking for, where a case can be strengthened, and how to position ambition with clarity and credibility.
Rory led major business cases through government spending reviews, including those underpinning the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships programme. DCL brings that experience to universities, researchers, funders and businesses seeking to build stronger propositions and more sustainable research capability.
We also support ambitious and developing institutions to strengthen research credibility, capacity and culture, moving from aspiration to credible delivery.
Experience that delivers for you
“Rory Duncan’s proactive engagement with researchers across the University was particularly valued and the information communicated was well-received and considered to be inspirational”
“The whole reason I came to this group is that I’m really excited by the agenda Rory is interested in – PEOPLE, rather than people being defined in their role”
Their [DCL’s] support for research and innovation was frequently referenced and universally recognized and appreciated by researchers. There was considerable excitement and enthusiasm for their concepts, ethos and potential opportunities.
“I couldn’t possibly have hoped for more or better support in my Fellowship application - thank you so much!”
“The momentum that Rory Duncan has brought is solely one of the reasons I’m currently choosing to stay in the university. It’s not something I’ve seen in other institutions. I find it supportive and inspirational."
I find it’s been really useful having Rory Duncan come along to ECR stuff…I find him transparent, open and inclusive…coming to ECR forums, asking questions and trying to listen to what people want”
“You (Rory) are a gifted teacher and mentor. I want to thank You for being the person that most guided me in the direction of my dreams in 2025. Humbly, I don't have words for my sentiments.
Policy and culture influence with distinctive vantage across all levels of the system
Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE)
Honorary Professor, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh
UKRI Director, Talent & Skills
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Science Board, this is the principal scientific advisory committee providing advice across all of STFC’s £650m annual research and innovation activities that plan and deliver UK infrastructure programmes.
Strategic advisor, Canadian Foundation of Innovation
OECD Skills Commissioner
Scottish Parliamentary Cross-party Group for Life Sciences
Commissioner, TALENT programme to support technical careers in the UK
External Advisory Group, Concordats and Agreements Review
National Centre for Universities and Business Mobility Task force, co-creating recommendations with universities and business leaders on how improving connectivity could enhance innovation outcomes across universities and businesses.
Chair of funding panels and strategic advisory groups for all disciplines
Ministerial advisory Red Team, Department of Science, Innovation and Technology
Research England strategic advisory group member, dual funding system and QR impact, reviewing and overhauling the research funding system for English universities to address systemic failures and funding crises.
Chair, Review of UK technical skills strategy.
Pro Vice-Chancellor, large English university
Interim Executive Director, Research, Innovation and Business Engagement, Scottish research university