Datacise announces that Dr Stephanie Lee has retired from her role as Co-Director for ADR Wales’ Training and Capacity Building (Datacise), following the conclusion of the previous investment period, with the next phase of ADR Wales funding running from 2026 to 2031.
Stephanie made a substantial contribution to the design and delivery of the Datacise programme, an integral initiative focused on strengthening skills, supporting training, and widening access to administrative data research across the UK and beyond.
Under her leadership, Datacise developed into a recognised platform for open learning and skills development, supporting users working with data at all career stages.
Her work strengthened partnerships across institutions and fostered a more inclusive and accessible training environment, ensuring that expertise in administrative data was both developed and widely shared. These contributions complement the wider ADR UK infrastructure, supporting secure data access and collaboration across sectors to deliver real-world impact from data-driven research.
Former Co-Director of ADR Wales and Emeritus Professor, David Ford OBE, said, “We extend our sincere thanks to Dr Stephanie Lee for her exceptional leadership and dedication in shaping Datacise Open Learning. Her vision and commitment were instrumental in establishing Datacise as a trusted and impactful platform for training and capacity building, enabling individuals across all career stages to develop vital skills in administrative data research.”
“Through her work, Stephanie not only strengthened partnerships across institutions but also championed a more inclusive and accessible learning environment, ensuring that knowledge and expertise are shared widely. Her contributions leave a lasting legacy that will continue to support the next phase of Datacise and ADR UK’s broader training and capacity building objectives.”
Former Co-Director of Datacise, Dr Stephanie Lee, said, “As I step down from my role as Co-Director of Datacise, I would like to thank former Datacise Co-Directors, Professors Sinead Brophy and Adam Chee, for their partnership and dedication to the Datacise programme. Their contributions have been instrumental in shaping Datacise into the strong, collaborative and far-reaching initiative it is today. I’m grateful to have shared this journey with them, and I am confident the programme will continue to grow and support an ever-wider community in the years ahead.”
New Leadership
Dr Ting Wang will take on the role of lead for Training and Capacity Building (Datacise) at ADR Wales, co-directing Datacise with ADR UK’s Head of Research & Capacity Building, Emily Oliver, and SeRP Director at Swansea University, Professor Simon Thompson.
Ting will also be working alongside the newly appointed ADR Wales Co-Directors Professor Lucy Griffiths (Academic Research Lead) and Professor Simon Thompson (Infrastructure), and current Co-Director Stephanie Howarth to support the ADR Wales research programme.
Ting brings significant expertise in data science and research infrastructure, having already contributed to advancing innovative approaches within the ADR Wales landscape. Her appointment ensures continuity and provides an opportunity to further expand the reach and impact of Datacise.
Datacise Co-Director and Head of Research & Capacity Building at ADR UK, Emily Oliver, said, “We are delighted to see Ting step into a leading role, bringing both continuity and fresh momentum to our training and capacity-building ambitions. Ting’s expertise in data science and research infrastructure, combined with her collaborative approach, positions Datacise to further expand its reach and impact across the UK and beyond.”
“Working alongside colleagues across ADR Wales and ADR UK, she will help strengthen our open learning offer, deepen partnerships, and ensure that high-quality, accessible training continues to support a diverse and growing community of data users. Together, this leadership team will build on strong foundations to advance innovation and maximise the real-world value of administrative data research.”
Looking ahead
As ADR Wales marks this transition, the Datacise programme will move forward as the Training and Capacity Building programme for ADR UK. This next phase represents an important step in scaling skills development across the UK, supporting a broader community of researchers and practitioners to access, understand and use administrative data for public good.
Newly appointed ADR Wales Co-Director (Academic Research Lead), Professor Lucy Griffiths, added, “As I take on this new role I’m excited about the next phase of Datacise Open Learning; building on the strong foundations already in place, Datacise will continue to play an important role in equipping researchers with the skills, confidence, and connections needed to access and use administrative data effectively. As Datacise evolves into ADR UK’s Training and Capacity Building programme, I look forward to supporting Datacise reach this wider community to access and use administrative data to deliver strong evidence and meaningful public impact.”
