Professor Christian Harrison, a senior academic at the University of Greater Manchester and Director of the Centre for Leadership and Empowerment, has been appointed to the prestigious Government Skills College of Experts in the United Kingdom.
This appointment places Harrison among 24 leading academics and expert practitioners selected from top universities and institutions across the UK. Their role is to provide specialist knowledge and evidence-based expertise in support of government priorities.
The Government Skills College of Experts operates under Government Skills, a Directorate within the UK Cabinet Office. This directorate is responsible for strengthening the capacity of ministers, civil servants, and public sector leaders through professional development, strategic learning, and policy support. The Directorate is also transitioning into the newly-announced National School for Government and Public Services, an initiative aimed at deepening leadership excellence, evidence-informed policymaking, and professional capability across the public sector.
Harrison's appointment is a recognition of his growing influence in leadership studies and his contributions to research, innovation, and empowerment within the academic community.
Speaking on the development, Harrison described the appointment as both an honour and an opportunity to contribute to national transformation in public service leadership and governance. “I am deeply honoured to have been appointed to the Government Skills College of Experts and to contribute to such an important national initiative at a time of significant transformation within public service leadership and governance,” he said.
“I am especially proud to represent the University of Greater Manchester, an institution that continues to demonstrate an outstanding commitment to innovation, inclusion, applied research, and leadership development,” he added.
The Government Skills College of Experts brings together specialists across diverse disciplines to support knowledge sharing, leadership advancement, and institutional effectiveness within government and public service systems. In this role, Harrison will advise the government on leadership and support leadership development initiatives.
