Andrew Smith

As Head of ELIXIR’s External Relations team, Andy manages relations with a range of stakeholders including funders, policy-makers, collaborators and international partners. The External Relations team is responsible for communications activities including the ELIXIR website and intranet, demonstrating socio-economic impact of ELIXIR, industry engagement, international collaborations, relations with other ESFRI research infrastructures and shaping policy through position papers and consultation responses. Andy leads on interactions with current and future Member States of ELIXIR and engagement with the EU institutions.

From December 2023 to May 2024, Andy acted as Interim Director of ELIXIR, supporting the transition phase between Niklas Bomberg's departure and Tim Hubbard’s start as ELIXIR Director. Andy is Coordinator of the Horizon Europe-funded ELIXIR-STEERS project. From 2006 to 2011, Andy worked in Brussels for the UK Research Office. Before this, he worked in education programmes in Slovenia and Czech Republic.