Great research NEEDS to be shared
let’s DO THAT THROUGH research EVENTS that really work
Gatherings in the research world (I’m talking conferences, workshops, seminars, and engagement events) take so much time and effort to organise. But too often, they don’t deliver what they could.
Don’t worry, that’s where I come in.
Hello! I’m Sarah McLusky.
I help research organisations design and deliver events that make the most of the time we spend together.
Logistics matter, but I specialise in the things that are harder to get right – making space for real connection, genuine knowledge exchange, and experiences that lead to long-term impact.
I know what it’s like…
- You’ve spent months planning an event, and it goes OK, but you’re sure it could have been so much more.
- Your attendees sit passively through back-to-back presentations, then leave before the networking even starts.
- You’re an academic or researcher who’s been handed responsibility for an event with minimal experience and little guidance on what to do.
- You work in public engagement or knowledge exchange and you want your events to feel genuinely collaborative, not just a tick-box exercise.
- You’re organising something important, like a stakeholder workshop, a funder showcase, or a community engagement event, and you can’t risk it falling flat.
If any of those sound familiar, I can help. I’ve worked in research-related events for over 25 years and together we can plan a gathering you will be proud of.
What I do…
I work with universities, research institutes, learned societies and other research organisations to design and deliver events, conferences and other gatherings that are purposeful, engaging, enjoyable and impactful.
This includes…
- Helping design and deliver an event that really works
- Facilitating sessions that encourage genuine connection
- Hosting your event to make everyone feel welcome and at ease
- Training and mentoring your team to run better events themselves
Want to make your next event the best it can be?
I’d love to hear from you
I can help you change the world…
even if it’s just your little corner of it!
“Sarah’s meticulous planning and expert delivery ensured that everyone involved got the most out of the day.”
Dr Matt Elliot, Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh
“Sarah designed the co-creation workshops in a way that was creative, fun and maximised the information we were able to obtain from a wide range of people.“
Prof Samantha Harrison, University of Teesside
Listen to me talking about research events in these podcasts
Conferences that put people before PowerPoint with Russell Arnott and Sarah McLusky
Research Adjacent (Episode 85)
Gathering with Purpose: Dr Sarah McLusky on making events actually worth showing up for
Amplifying Research (Episode 42)
Sarah McLusky on diverse careers, purposeful events and effective communication
Changing Academic Life (Episode 135)
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