Dr Sumi David is Assistant Director of Research and Impact (Strategy, Policy and Performance) at Exeter.  The Strategy, Policy and Performance team which she leads support the implementation of strategic research initiatives, research and impact performance and national assessments (e.g. REF, impact evaluation), internal research governance structures, research planning, and impact evidence and evaluation and research information systems. 

She was previously Head of Strategic Planning, Evidence and Impact at the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) until 2018.  Prior to joining the Research Councils, Sumi was the Senior Research Analyst for the PVC (Research) at the University of Cambridge. There she supported REF2014 preparations, interdisciplinary strategic initiatives such as Energy@Cambridge and international funder relationships. She has a PhD in Medieval History from the University of St Andrews and has taught at St Andrews and Edinburgh.