AIPT Skills for Impact and Innovation 2026

AIPT Skills for Impact and Innovation is a new series of practical training sessions and talks for researchers and professional staff at the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies (AIPT). Running throughout 2026, the series will focus on developing skills that strengthen research impact, support innovation, and enhance capabilities that are increasingly valuable in collaborative, industrial and entrepreneurial environments.Each session will be delivered by experienced trainers or practitioners and will offer practical tools, examples and structured learning designed for those working in research and technology-driven settings.

Trainer: Sue Tonks
Date: 10 February 2026
Audience: AIPT researchers, doctoral students and professional staff
Format: Interactive in-person workshop (with group exercises and discussion)

Networking is a key skill in research and innovation – from conferences and industry meetings to internal events and informal conversations. Yet many people find networking uncomfortable or overwhelming.

In this highly interactive workshop, participants will explore how to approach networking situations with more confidence, build genuine professional relationships and make the most of opportunities to connect with others. The session is designed to be practical, supportive and enjoyable, with plenty of real-life examples and tips that can be applied immediately.

During the workshop, participants will:

• Learn how to enter and leave groups in a room with confidence, and which groups are best to join in different situations.
• Understand how a room “works” – from social gatherings to business events and academic meetings – and how to navigate it effectively.
• Practise ways to break the ice with new people and keep a conversation flowing.
• Explore how to build trust and rapport, and turn first conversations into stronger professional relationships.
• Learn how to spot wider links and opportunities for collaboration, mentoring or career development.
• Develop clear, confident answers to “What do you do?” that work in different contexts.
• Consider how to follow up after events so that networking leads to concrete outcomes.

By the end of the workshop, participants should feel better prepared for networking at conferences, internal events and external meetings, and have practical tools they can continue to use and refine.

Sue Tonks is an international trainer and speaker specialising in networking skills. For over 20 years she has delivered memorable, practical workshops for universities, business schools, professional bodies and major organisations, including the University of Birmingham, London Business School, University College London, Saïd Business School (Oxford), AAT, CIMA, ACCA and a range of legal, banking and accountancy firms. Known for her energetic delivery and use of humour, Sue combines clear structure with real-world stories so that participants remember and apply what they learn long after the session. Alongside her training work, she runs several businesses, including HydroVeg Kits – her own invention, manufactured for schools and domestic customer.