Researcher Development Champion: Kevin Coutinho MBE

Congratulations to Kevin Coutinho MBE, Chair of the Windsor Fellowship, for being awarded the 2025 Faraday Institution Researcher Development Champion. This award recognises his transformative leadership in embedding inclusive practices and policies within academic institutions, significantly advancing equality, diversity and inclusion in research environments.

Picture: Kevin holding the award at at the Faraday Institution Conference 2025. From left to right: Kyle D’Silva from Thermo Fisher Scientific (Award sponsor), Kevin Coutinho MBE and Prof Martin Freer (Faraday Institution CEO). 

Kevin has served as a key member of the Faraday Institution’s Training and Diversity Panel since its inception, bringing his extensive expertise to the role. His contributions have been instrumental in shaping the Faraday Institution’s training strategy, ensuring that career development opportunities are equitable, impactful and accessible across the researcher pipeline. His strategic input into training allocation and support systems for underrepresented groups has made a demonstrable difference — for example, increasing the diversity of the PhD cohorts and enhancing the vibrancy and resilience of the battery research talent pool.

Kevin’s sustained efforts in promoting EDI principles have not only transformed institutional cultures but have also set a benchmark for inclusive practices in researcher development nationally. His leadership and advocacy make him an extremely deserving winner of the Researcher Development Award.”

Dr Billy Wu, Imperial College London, and current Chair of the Training and Diversity Panel

More widely, examples of Kevin’s impactful activities include:

• UCL’s Athena SWAN leadership: As UCL’s Athena SWAN Manager, Kevin provided invaluable guidance and resources to departments, enabling them to achieve gender equality awards. His efforts in supporting self-assessment teams, developing action plans, and promoting gender equality have fostered a culture of continuous improvement in gender equity.
• Inclusive research culture: Kevin played a significant role in establishing UCL’s departmental EDI committees and implementing policies that promote a healthy and inclusive working environment.
• Mentorship structures: Kevin was instrumental in revising mentorship mechanisms for ECRs and junior staff, establishing cross-departmental mentorship groups to foster integration and the sharing of best practices.
• Male allies network: Kevin co-developed UCL’s Male Allies Network, engaging male staff in promoting gender equality and creating a roadmap for allyship, thereby fostering an inclusive institutional culture. The Male Allies Network.
• Understanding inclusive leadership in practice: Kevin authored a guide offering practical insights for leaders seeking to foster inclusive environments. Guide on the Advance HE website.

Kevin’s other sector leaderships roles in EDI include:

• Pro-Director for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion as the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• Chair of the Higher Education Race Action Group
• Athena SWAN and Race Equality Charter panellist for Advance HE
• Previous Co-Chair of the League of European Research Universities EDI Policy Group
• Head of Equality and Diversity at the University of Oxford
• Equality and Diversity Consultant at the University of Cambridge
• HR Strategy and Policy Partner at Birkbeck
• Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant at London Metropolitan University
• External Advisory Group on Gender Equality Member at the University of Galway
• Council Member for the British Science Association

Working alongside Kevin I was consistently impressed by his passion, dedication, and impactful contributions to researcher development and the promotion of EDI. His contributions have had a tangible and positive impact on the research community.”

Professor Paul Shearing, University of Oxford, and former Chair of the Training and Diversity Panel

We have been extremely fortunate to have had, in Kevin, such a passionate and knowledgeable champion for researcher development and EDI. A huge thank you to Kevin for his service as he steps down from the Training and Diversity Panel at the end of his second term.”

Matt Howard, Chief Strategy Officer, Faraday Institution

Since his nomination for this award was made, Kevin was awarded an MBE for services to equality diversity and inclusion in the King’s Birthday Honours 2025.

Kevin presenting at the Trinity College Dublin.

Join us in congratulating Kevin on his achievements.

Posted on September 17, 2025