Professor Michelle McManus and Kevin Wong Appointed Chancellor’s Fellows to drive National and International Policy Development

We are pleased to share details on our newest Chancellor’s Fellows, who are undertaking their placements this year: Professor Michelle McManus and Kevin Wong of the Policy Evaluation Research Unit (PERU). Our prestigious MetroPolis Chancellor’s Fellowship scheme offers high-quality researchers placements with external organisations to help them address specific policy challenges.

These fellowships are an ideal opportunity for staff who are developing policy-related impact linked to their research findings. The fellowships offer staff access to funding of up to £8,000 to cover the costs of a placement with an external organisation that can help to accelerate policy impact.  Organisations can include government departments (international, national or local), think tanks, charities, businesses. To find out more and read about out latest fellows, please read on below. ​​​​​​​

Professor Michelle McManus

As a Chancellor’s Fellow, Michelle will join the Vulnerability Knowledge and Practice Programme (VKPP) within the College of Policing. The VKPP programme, in partnership with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), aims to enhance policing responses, reduce threats and harm, and improve outcomes for victims of crime. A key part of the VKPP and Michelle’s role will be to work in partnership with the NPCC, Operation Soteria and the Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Taskforce to centralise expertise, knowledge and skills within the Home Office funded newly created National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection. The Centre aims to bring more offenders to justice, respond more effectively to the public-protection hams experienced by victims and communities through an assured, professional and compassionate policing service.

Michelle brings a wealth of expertise in multi-agency safeguarding, having played an instrumental role in shaping national guidance and policies, including the Home Office’s statutory guidance on criminal exploitation and the Policing Strategy 2024-2027 and creating law enforcement tools that are used internationally to safeguard children from sexual abuse. Her work has also been recognised through contributions to government inquiries and parliamentary committees, including the House of Lords, the Education Committee on Children’s Social Care and Women and Equalities Committee on the escalation of violence against women and girls.

As part of her fellowship, Michelle will focus on key areas such as:

• Supporting the development of the National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection
• Enhancing leadership training in safeguarding
• Bridging the gap between policing and academic research

These efforts will help inform and improve strategic policy development, ensuring that safeguarding practices across England and Wales are evidence-based and effective.

Kevin Wong

Kevin’s fellowship will take place in Indonesia, focusing on probation and prison  reform.

His fellowship supports the Directorate General of Corrections (DGC) in evaluating and improving needs and risk assessment tools for individuals with convictions. The work will involve close collaboration with the University of Indonesia (UI) and key international stakeholders, including the UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Kevin is acting as a consultant and advisor, working with the DGC and UI to:

• Develop and refine methodologies for evaluating the effectiveness of needs and risk assessment tools used in sentencing and supervision
• Establish policies and processes that integrate research and evaluation into DGC practices.
• Build institutional capacity within Indonesia to support ongoing research and policy development.

Kevin Wong has extensive experience advising HM Prison and Probation Service in the UK and has contributed to various high-profile evaluations, including the development of risk assessment tools and interventions for individuals with convictions.