Q&A with Rachael Gibson
At the University of Salford, effective research governance isn’t just about meeting obligations – it’s about enabling researchers to thrive in a complex environment. Rachael Gibson, Research Governance Manager at the University of Salford, oversees a diverse portfolio of research projects – many of which involve complex systems, cross-disciplinary teams, and international collaboration.
When it came to Export Controls, Salford faced challenges that called for a system capable of bringing consistency, visibility, and structure to what was often a fragmented process. To meet this need, they implemented Infonetica’s Export Controls solution. The goal is to simplify and centralise record-keeping, support academic staff more effectively, and be audit-ready at any moment.
We spoke with Rachael about the hurdles they faced, the value of a soft launch, and the importance of building trust with internal stakeholders when introducing new compliance systems.
Q: Can you describe some of the challenges you had before implementing our Export Controls Solution? What prompted you to look for an Export Controls solution?
Rachael:
“Record keeping was a particular challenge before we had an Export Controls solution. There can be a lot of communication and paperwork associated with an export license. We needed assurance that everything essential would be accessible from one place, even with multiple research management systems, to manage a complex project lifecycle and in the case of ECJU audit.
Systematic and proportionate review was also difficult to achieve. It can become too easy to apply an inconsistent review process to individual research projects, resulting in variable workload and hard-to-manage checkpoints for each project. An Export Controls solution rationalises this for us as the time mapping and scoping is already in place, so we can dedicate more time to supporting our academic colleagues to deliver their research.”
Q: How have you found the implementation experience so far?
Rachael:
"The Infonetica team have been great. We were happy to work with them again as they had made the process of implementing the Ethics RM system so straightforward, supporting us through all our queries and giving us space to discuss and decide internally when we needed it. This time scoping and implementation has been smaller and more personal, but we've been listened to and guided in the process and decisions with precisely the same care.”
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Q: What impact have you already observed? Big or small, we’re interested in any early wins or positive changes!
Rachael:
“We have made the decision to soft launch. The sector is going through a turbulent time and it's essential to be mindful of sector feedback such as the Tickell Review of Research Bureaucracy. This means it will be slower for us to realise the benefits, despite being eager to get it out there! Instead, we're introducing it slowly and continuing to develop as the legislation and our own learning of how to apply that learning adapts to challenging geopolitics.”
Q: What would you say to a peer considering implementing an Export Controls system?
Rachael:
If you're considering implementing a system to help with export controls compliance, go for it. National security legislation isn't moving away from HE, and anything that can help you effectively embed your processes and records keeping, as well as support and deliver secure research efficiently is a boon. Build trust with your stakeholders and help them understand the role they play in making the system the best it can be - this will help with buy-in and genuinely delivering the best option for your workplace. Speak to others who have implemented the system as even seeing something that would never work for you can help frame your thinking and streamline your options.”
Ready to strengthen your institution’s approach to export controls? Explore our Export Controls solution or get in touch with our team to find out how we can help.
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