Sarah reports from the Festival of Hidden REF held in Birmingham on 8 October 2025. This episode features contributions from organisers, speakers and participants including

1. Hidden REF committee members Simon Hettrick and James Baker sharing the story behind the event
2. Previous Hidden REF competition winners Laura Henderson and Lorraine van Blerk highlighting hidden roles in research
3. Speaker Elisa Collado and participants Emily Ennis, Jo Williams and Alix Brodie-Wray and Nick Sheppard sharing their takeaways and what still might be missing from the conversation

Find out more

1. Read the full show notes and transcript on the podcast website
2. Connect with guests Simon Hettrick, James Baker, Laura Henderson, Lorraine van Blerk, Elisa Collado, Emily Ennis, Jo Williams and Alix Brodie-Wray or Nick Sheppard
3. Find out more about Hidden REF on their website or follow them on LinkedIn. You can find the list of hidden roles that Simon mentions here.
4. Listen to the What the REF?! podcast

About Research Adjacent

1. Where are you listening from? Share a pic and tag @ResearchAdjacent on LinkedIn, Instagram or BlueSky
2. Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
3. Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
4. Email a comment, question or suggestion
5. Leave Sarah a voice message

Mentioned in this episode:

Interested in advertising on the podcast?

If you have a service, product, event, or opportunity that would be of interest to our audience get in touch via [email protected] to explore how we can work together.

Member of the Month: Vicky Bowskill, Inklusive Nature

Vicky helps researchers and changemakers to connect nature, science & society by telling compelling visual stories. Find out more at www.inklusivenature.com