In this episode of the Placecast podcast, Nicola Headlam speaks with Liz Shutt, Programme Director at Insights North East (INE). This episode offers a compelling look at how place-based leadership, cross-sector collaboration, and a generous spirit can reshape the way we think about and do policy. It’s a call to action for anyone committed to making a tangible difference in their region.
PlaceCast is a Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub production based at City-REDI, University of Birmingham. Our new podcast is essential listening for those keen to explore the ins and outs of knowledge mobilisation for influence in central and local government, based on the view that it’s only through animating the power of place-based leadership that the wicked problems of 2025 can become more manageable.
Liz Shutt is Programme Director for Insights North East (INE), an initiative seeking to produce actionable and accessible insights for policy makers in the North East of England, drawing on the rich evidence base from within Newcastle and Northumbria Universities and from the project's policy partners - North of Tyne Combined Authority, Newcastle City Council, NHS Newcastle and NHS Northumbria Trusts. INE has three priority challenge areas: Net Zero, Health and Wellbeing.
Liz is responsible for setting up the organisation, developing key relationships, setting strategic direction, spotting new opportunities and overall delivery of actionable insights for their policy partners.
Previously, Liz was Director of Policy for the University of Lincoln and the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Dr Nicola Headlam has more than 20 years of experience working within all aspects of the multi-helix innovation system; central and local government, civil society and campaigning, academic research and knowledge mobilisation and in industry. Along the way, she has honed expertise in urban and regional subnational economic development, the roles of government in making and shaping place, and in data and evidence for transformation.
In 2024, she became a freelance economic advisor on the role of leadership and partnerships, urban and living lab forms for research, future of cities and foresighting methods, urban transformations, place-branding and urban regeneration and the spatial consequences of public policy.
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