We would like to offer our congratulations to Professor Vicki Goodwin MBE – our 2025 Senior Leader Academy Excellence Award holder – who has been appointed Vice President Research and Academic Development at the British Geriatrics Society (BGS). Vicki has been deputy to the current Vice President and takes over in November 2026. She is the first Allied Health Professional to take on the role.
Vicki is Professor of Ageing and Rehabilitation and NIHR Senior Investigator at the University of Exeter, and is a physiotherapist. She has a particular interest in community rehabilitation for older people living with frailty and those with multiple long-term conditions. In addition, ensuring that research translates into meaningful improvements in clinical practice and patient care.
Developing the next generation of researchers in ageing
Vicki is passionate about developing the next generation of researchers. She is using her Academy Excellence Award funding in part to run a series of free, online Ageing Research Cafés. These provide researchers with the opportunity to share their ideas about ageing research with no slides and no pressure. The next sessions are on Tuesday 20 October 2026 and you can find out more and book here.
She also funded the Conference Awards for Ageing Research. This scheme supports Allied Health Professionals and nurses to present their research at a conference. There is approximately £10,000 available until June 2027 and you can find out more here.
And she funded the Public, Patient and Community Involvement and Engagement Awards. The scheme supports early and mid-career researchers to develop inclusive and participatory research in the field of ageing. You can read more about the awards and find out how to apply here.
On her BGS appointment, Vicki says: “I’m delighted to have been appointed to this new senior role within the BGS. It provides more opportunities to work in collaboration with the Vivensa Foundation to improve the health and well-being of older people in the UK through research.”
_________________________
Nominations are now open for the 2027 Vivensa Academy Excellence Awards and the deadline is 30 October 2026. You can learn more about the awards at our upcoming webinar on 24 September 2026 (2–3pm), for which you can register here.
