The OPEN Forum: Risk and Resilience
How can the UK become more resilient? What can we do to better understand, anticipate, prevent and respond to some of the major risks affecting the country?
To tackle these questions, this year's Oxford Policy Engagement Network Forum brought together more than 100 experts from relevant UK government departments and agencies, and from across the life, medical, physical and social sciences, as well as the humanities. The Forum took place on 24 June 2025 at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. you can read more about the day's discussions in our Forum Report.
Participants worked in three parallel streams, focusing on risks related to one of the following sub-themes: the environment and energy; human health; and technology.
The Forum was convened in collaboration with the Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford Martin School, Pandemic Sciences Institute and the ZERO Institute, with support from the University’s Policy Engagement Team.
Following a welcome from the Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government, Professor Ngaire Woods, the Director of the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms Unit, Roger Hargreaves, gave this year's keynote address, sharing with participants insights on the latest developments in the UK government’s approach to risk and resilience.
Participants then unpacked the Forum's sub-themes in a plenary session, before dispersing to take part in three parallel streams, each focused on a single sub-theme, to explore in depth key challenges, available and emerging evidence and tools that can help tackle them, as well as evidence gaps and avenues for potential collaboration.
Professor Sir Charles Godfray, Director of the Oxford Martin School, introduced our closing plenary session, in which the Coordinator of the Crisis Management Programme at the Blavatnik School of Government, Dr Hester Kan, facilitated a discussion of key points arising from work in each stream and possible areas for future action.
Professor Alexander Betts, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for External Engagement, Sport, and Community, provided closing remarks.
Sessions within each stream were facilitated under the Chatham House Rule. Key discussion points and future action have been captured in our Forum Report which is as a resource for participants, other research and policy professionals, and funders.
Contact us at [email protected] with any further queries.
The 2025 OPEN Forum was made possible by the University's allocation from Research England's Policy Support Fund, and co-funding from the Blavatnik School of Government and the ZERO Institute. This year's visual identity was designed by Naomi Waite.
