Karen Powell is Head of Research Strategy and Commissioning for ADR England. Her focus is on providing opportunities for the academic community to access ADR England’s flagship, research-ready data to conduct policy-relevant research, as well as building and nurturing a professional community of administrative data researchers. Karen worked at the Department for Education for a decade before joining the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC), including various analytical roles, a secondment to a local authority, policy development and running a programme office. At ESRC, Karen took a lead across the What Works Network investments before shaping the ‘service design’ for what has become ADR UK. Karen developed the ADR England Strategy and places a high importance on ensuring research can become useful evidence to inform better decisions for public good.