IRiS announces new director

Nando Sigona takes the lead of the Institute from founding director Jenny Phillimore

After almost a decade at the helm of the Institute for Research into Superdiversity, founding director Professor Jenny Phillimore steps down from her role to dedicate more time to research. Having put a great amount of work and passion into establishing IRiS, nationally and internationally, Jenny decided it was time to take a step back from day-to-day leadership and focus on her ground breaking research  and impact work focusing on refugee integration, sexual and gender-based violence and welfare and superdiversity. While she plans to spend some time catching up with writing, in particular delivering books on welfare bricolage and sexual and gender based violence and refugees, she will remain active in IRiS and contribute to its strategic goals.

During her tenure, IRiS has become an established centre of excellence for research on migration and superdiversity and grown in strength and size and achieved a global profile. She is followed by former Deputy Director Professor Nando Sigona. Nando is an internationally renowned migration scholar, co-founder of the academic journal Migration Studies (Oxford University Press) and editor of the book series Global Migration and Social Change (Bristol University Press). Accepting the new role, professor Sigona said:

“Replacing Jenny at the helm of IRiS is monumental task. She put endless time and intellectual energy into creating a vibrant and welcoming research community in and around the Institute. However, I am delighted and reassured knowing she will continue to play a key role in the Institute even after stepping down from day-to-day leadership”.