Richard Welpton

Richard Welpton is the Head of Data Services Infrastructure at the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), part of UK Research and Innovation. He oversees ESRCs investments in data service infrastructure, which includes UK Data Service, CLOSER, the Census Longitudinal Study Research Support Units, and is also ESRC’s representative for the UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure programme. Prior to joining UKRI, Richard worked in roles supporting researchers with access and use of secure data, including at Office for National Statistics, UK Data Archive (where he helped to set up and manage the SecureLab, and participated in Data without Boundaries), Valuation Office Agency, Cancer Research UK and The Health Foundation, as well as consultancy roles.