Professor Judith Phillips

Professor

Dementia and Ageing Cottrell Building, Stirling, FK9 4Lla

Professor Judith Phillips

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About me

Judith Phillips is Professor of Social and Environmental Gerontology within the Faculty of Social Sciences. Judith held the position of Deputy Principal for Research at Stirling from 2016 to 2024 during which time more than 80% of Stirling's research was assessed as either world leading or internationally recognised and 87% was recognised as having an outstanding or very considerable impact on society. She also oversaw the largest increase in research grant capture in the University's history.

Alongside her DP role during 2020- 2024, Judith was Research Director for the Healthy Ageing Challenge delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Before joining the University, Judith Phillips was Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Director of the Research Institute for Applied Social Sciences at Swansea University which sought to strengthen social sciences across the University and embed a social science perspective in Engineering and Medicine. She was also Director of the Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research for Wales and the School for Social Care Research in Wales. Following a geography degree at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, she went to study at Stockholm University, Jesus College, Oxford and UEA, Norwich, where she worked as a researcher and a lecturer before joining the Centre for Social Gerontology at the University of Keele in 1993. Judith returned to Wales in 2004 to set up the Centre for Innovative Ageing at Swansea University. She holds several Fellowships in recognition of her contribution to Gerontology including a Gerontological Society of America Fellowship since 2004 in recognition of outstanding achievement and exemplary contributions to the field of Gerontology. Judith has been an active member of the British Society of Gerontology for 40 years and was its President between 2008-10. In 2021 she was awarded BSG’s highest honour the Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of her significant and lasting contribution to Gerontology. In 2013 Professor Phillips was awarded an OBE for services to older people Her professional standing is reflected in her election to various Councils of the Academy of Social Sciences (2019-2025); The Learned Society of Wales (2015-2018); Global Social Initiative on Ageing (Deputy Director, since 2017). She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Professor Phillips has been highly active in shaping the UK’s gerontological research landscape and her applied research has impacted on government policy. Professor Phillips has an impressive track record of research grant capture across many disciplines. Her many publications on social work and older people are extensively used by students, with translations made into several languages. She has extensive links with both the Welsh and UK governments, social services departments, and business. In 2016 Professor Phillips chaired the Welsh Government Expert group on Housing an Ageing Population the recommendations of which have been incorporated into the Welsh Government Strategy for Older People 2021. In 2023 she was a member of the UK Governments Housing for Older People Taskforce. She is a member of the ILC-UK advisory board. Recent Grants include: 2022-2027 (ESRC) Connecting Generations (Co-I) £8.2m overall; 2021-2022 ESRC & Health Foundation Improving Adult Care Together: UK Centre for Evidence Implementation in Adult Social Care- IMPACT (Co-I) £15m overall and 2020 -2024 UKRI ISCF Healthy Ageing Research Director (PI) £1,300,000

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