DARE UK (Data and Analytics Research Environments UK) is pleased to announce a series of appointments to strengthen leadership and delivery capability for the current and future phases of the programme.
The roles replace recently vacated posts and expand capacity to support both ongoing delivery and new initiatives across the UK’s trusted research infrastructure landscape.
At the forefront of these appointments, Professor Emily Jefferson has been confirmed as Director and Adam Bradley joins as Deputy Director, providing strategic and operational leadership for the programme.
These appointments come at a pivotal time for DARE UK, as it continues to work with partners and the public to advance data research innovation through technical projects and community building initiatives.
Professor Emily Jefferson appointed Director of DARE UK
Professor Emily Jefferson was formally appointed Director of DARE UK in April 2026, following her tenure as Interim Director. This is a 90% seconded position into UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
Emily brings a wealth of experience in health data science, digital infrastructure and national programme leadership. Prior to this role, she served as Chief Technology Officer at Health Data Research UK (HDR UK), where she led the development of technology services to support secure, consistent and meaningful access to health data.
Her work has included leadership of the Health Data Research Gateway, a platform designed to streamline dataset discovery and access, enabling more ethical, secure and transparent use of health data. She has also held key roles across major HDR UK programmes, including the Safe People Registry and the Cohort Discovery Service,
Earlier in her career, Professor Jefferson spent a decade as Director of the Health Informatics Centre (HIC) at the University of Dundee, where she ran a Trusted Research Environment supporting more than 700 research projects. Her research focuses on innovative approaches to delivering linked, sensitive data at scale, balancing governance requirements with the needs of the research community. She has secured over £120 million in research funding and led several large multi-partner programmes.
As Director, she will lead the delivery of the DARE UK programme strategy, driving the development of a national network of secure data infrastructures, working closely with data custodians, scientists, technologists and the public.
Richard Gunn, Director of the UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure Programme, said:
“Emily’s secondment to UKRI as DARE UK Director marks an important step for UKRI’s ambition to develop more capable and coherent digital research infrastructure. She brings exceptional experience and insight that will help ensure DARE UK continues to deliver for the research community. Working with her team and partners, she will play a key role in shaping how we enable trustworthy, connected data infrastructure across the UK.”
Professor Andrew Morris, Director of HDR UK, said:
“Emily has been an exceptional Chief Technology Officer at HDR UK, and I am pleased to see her formally appointed as Director of DARE UK. Having had the pleasure to work closely with her, I’ve seen firsthand Emily’s deep commitment and genuine passion for making data work for people. DARE UK is in safe hands with Emily leading this next phase, and while we will miss her enormously, I am delighted that our close partnership will continue.”
Emma Gordon, Director of ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK), said:
“I am delighted that Emily has been confirmed as the new Director of the DARE UK programme and look forward to continuing to support this vital work. Emily brings a wealth of experience to this role, which will be vital as she and her strengthened leadership team plan for the next phase.”
Adam Bradley joins as Deputy Director
Adam Bradley joins DARE UK as Deputy Director from June 2026, bringing a broad and distinctive background spanning science, operational leadership and technology.
Adam began his career as a farm animal veterinarian before pursuing a long-standing ambition to work in the polar regions. He went on to become a Station Leader and Project Manager for the British Antarctic Survey, leading teams in remote and challenging environments.
He later transitioned into the technology sector, working as a software engineer before joining Metaswitch Networks and subsequently Microsoft, where he served as a Program Manager leading development of an AI-based product.
Most recently, Adam took a year-long sabbatical to write a popular science book, due for publication in early 2027. Outside of work, he is an active member of his community, serving as a Technical Rescue Leader for Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team, alongside interests in music and cycling.
As Deputy Director, Adam will support the delivery of DARE UK’s expanding programme of work, including helping to drive innovation through funded initiatives, strengthening collaboration across delivery partners and the wider ecosystem.
Adam Bradley, said:
“I’m delighted to be joining the impressive DARE UK team at such an important point in their journey. The programme has already been instrumental in enabling safe and efficient use of sensitive data for the public good. I’m looking forward to working with colleagues and partners across the UK to deliver the next phase, delivering solutions that will help us answer some of society’s biggest questions.”
Strengthening capacity
Alongside these senior appointments, DARE UK has also recruited additional roles to support programme delivery and new technical capabilities.
Dr Simon Li joins as Principal Cloud and Infrastructure Engineer. He will lead the development and deployment of the Test Environment for Trusted Research Environments (TETREs), enabling collaboration between partner sites and supporting technical experimentation across the network.
Sara Al Disi joins as Communications and Engagement Officer, supporting DARE UK’s growing stakeholder community. She will play a key role in communicating programme progress, strengthening engagement across research, technology and public communities, and supporting the continued co-design approach that underpins DARE UK.
DARE UK is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) as part of the UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure programme and jointly led by Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) and Administrative Data Research UK (ADR UK).
