Dr Haitao He and Dr David Maidment are among the 42 emerging leaders from across the UK who were announced today as the newest members of the UK Young Academy. The new members come from a wide range of sectors, with backgrounds in political science, engineering, government, communications and the creative and performing industries, and more.
As members of the UK Young Academy, they will have the opportunity to take action on both local and global issues. Through interdisciplinary projects and working across sectors, they will bridge gaps, drive innovation, and develop the solutions needed to address critical challenges – all while advancing their professional development and contributing to a global network of Young Academies focused on achieving positive outcomes
Vice-Chancellor and President of Loughborough University, Professor Nick Jennings said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Haitao and David have been selected to join the UK Young Academy. This initiative, which I wholeheartedly support, offers an incredible opportunity for progressive and passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds to collaborate and tackle global challenges.
“The rigorous and highly competitive application process highlights Haitao's and David's remarkable achievements, as well as the outstanding programme of support provided by our Enhanced Academic Practice team. To date, eight members of our community have joined the Academy. I strongly encourage others, including alumni, to seize this opportunity in the future.”
Director of Organisational Development and Change, Sharon Platts added: “For the third year running, we are thrilled to celebrate the success of Loughborough University colleagues once again being selected to join the UK Young Academy. This continued achievement highlights the continued dedication of our Programme Director Dr Katryna Kalawsky supporting applicants through targeted mentoring and training, to achieve success. We are also grateful to the many University staff who have generously shared their time and knowledge to mentor colleagues through the application process and are incredibly proud to see our colleagues thrive and make their mark in such a prestigious group.”
The new members take up their posts from 1 April 2025, and membership runs for five years.
David is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology based in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences. His research focuses on healthy ageing, with a particular emphasis on supporting older adults with long-term health conditions and disabilities. His work explores behaviour change interventions to improve physical and psychosocial wellbeing, as well as independence and quality of life in underrepresented groups, with applications spanning health and social care, assistive technology, and policy development.
He said: “I am thrilled to have been accepted as a new member of the UK Young Academy for 2025, especially at a time when interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for addressing key societal challenges both nationally and globally. I look forward to representing Loughborough University, working alongside other experts across disciplines to drive innovation in healthy ageing. I am also grateful for the fantastic support from Loughborough University throughout the submission process – the mentoring, training sessions, and guidance that were provided were invaluable and integral to building a successful application.”
Haitao is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow working on simulation, machine learning, and digital twinning approaches for scenario testing and optimisation of multimodal transport systems. Understanding the complex, multifaceted challenges in transport that call for interdisciplinary collaboration, Haitao has led the establishment of the Transport AI Innovation Centre (TRAICE) at Loughborough University as the Inaugural Director, steering the Centre in developing deep technologies that drive forward disruptive dimensions of future mobility: automation, electrification, connectivity, shared mobility, and active travel.
Throughout his career, Haitao has pursued and achieved real-world impact through award-winning innovations. Most recently, Haitao has led the development of TraffEase, an AI assistant that answers transport-related questions, instantly delivering precise and actionable data insights to optimise mobility, reduce congestion, and cut emissions. TraffEase was recognised as one of the top ten finalists for the Manchester Prize from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology for 'AI innovation for public good'.
On the announcement, Haitao commented: “I am excited to join the UK Young Academy and work with fellow members to help create the best possible environment where young researchers and innovators can thrive and deliver real-world impact. By empowering the next generation, we aim to drive innovations that tackle society’s most pressing challenges. I am grateful for the support I have received, especially through the programme led by Dr Katryna Kalawsky, as well as from all the colleagues who have mentored me throughout my journey. I hope to pay this forward and support the next generation through my work with the UK Young Academy.”