We would like to welcome Marcus Atkinson, our new Head of Partnerships and Engagement, to the RSA team. Marcus brings extensive experience having worked across higher education, marketing, and international collaboration. His professional focus has been on facilitating meaningful, two-way interaction between academia and external organisations—supporting the societal and commercial impact of research through partnerships, collaborative projects, and tailored programmes.
Before joining the RSA, Marcus held a management role in external engagement and knowledge exchange (KE) at the University of Sussex Business School. There, he supported academics in developing and delivering short courses, CPD, professional training, workshops, and knowledge exchange initiatives across a wide range of disciplines. His work connected university research and teaching with policy, industry, and community priorities, contributing to impactful, practitioner-oriented learning experiences.
Marcus’s career has spanned the creative industries, international education, and global marketing. He has worked in Taiwan, headed an international office in UK higher education, and held senior marketing roles with a focus on international development and strategy. He holds a BA in Chinese and management, a postgraduate diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing and is currently completing a MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Marcus is passionate about building partnerships that create lasting value, and about helping organisations and communities benefit from the insights, energy, and creativity that academic research can offer.
Marcus said:
I’m thrilled to be joining the RSA – I’m in awe of the scope, breadth, and depth of the interdisciplinary dialogue it fosters, and I look forward to contributing and supporting its work. The RSA’s mission to connect research with policy and practice closely aligns with my personal and professional values, and with my experience in knowledge exchange. I feel fortunate to be joining the RSA and I look forward to meeting and working with you.
RSA Chief Executive Alan Kinder said:
We’re delighted to welcome Marcus to the RSA team as its Head of Partnerships and Engagement. His expertise and experience in partnership working and in mobilising academic research will be of great benefit to the Association’s forthcoming strategy, which is currently out for consultation. We very much look forward to working with Marcus as we seek to grow the impacts of our collaborations across the regional studies community, and to further developing our membership offer.
We look forward to the expertise, enthusiasm, and collaborative spirit Marcus will bring to the RSA as we continue to grow and support our global community.