Claire Gorrara is Professor French at Cardiff University and a Dean of Research and Innovation. She supports the development of research projects across Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. She has developed expertise in innovation and commercialisation, leading Cardiff’s portfolio of 6 UKRI Impact Accelerator Accounts. She has led projects working with external industry partners, community enterprises and the public sector and has taken an active role in promoting University research for the public good. She has been the Academic Director of MFL Mentoring since its inception in 2015, leveraging over £3.9M in public funding for languages work in Wales and publishing collaborative action-research . She is committed to sharing the benefits and value of Arts and Humanities research and innovation through networks, such as the Wales Arts and Humanities Alliance, which she co-founded in 2023.

Lucy is the Project Director of the MFL Mentoring Project funded by the Welsh Government and hosted by Cardiff University. Lucy has led on the development of the project since 2017, expanding the scope and size of the project substantially. Lucy has contributed to the body of research associated with the project investigating language learning, multilingualism, digital practices and mentoring. Lucy also developed the spin-off project Love Reading designed to tackle low literacy motivation amongst younger learners through mentoring. Most recently, Lucy has been an Education Consultant and Researcher developing a schools programme, SHAPEinSchools, to support the British Academy and London School of Economics SHAPE initiative, which aims to increase the visibility of social sciences, the humanities and arts subjects across society. Lucy has also worked internationally in Spain and New Zealand, offering expert support on shaping policy, designing action-based research projects, language and literacy learning and mentoring practices.