Professor Ana Manzano delivers the 12th Faculty Inaugural Lecture
The faculty was delighted to host Professor Manzano's lecture in celebration of her impressive research career.
On Thursday 4 February, Professor Ana Manzano delivered the 12th Faculty of Social Sciences Inaugural Lecture – a series which began in October 2024 to celebrate the achievement of colleagues who have been promoted to or appointed at the rank of Professor.
Professor Ana Manzano is a Professor of Public Policy Evaluation in the School of Sociology and Social Policy.
Professor Ana Manzano delivering her inaugural lecture.
Ana is a Professor of Public Policy Evaluation and Editor-in-Chief of Evaluation and Program Planning. She has led and contributed to interdisciplinary research in the UK, Spain, Nigeria, Ghana, and Vietnam, applying advanced theory-driven evaluation methodologies to examine key issues in social and health policy, including treatment decision-making in long-term conditions; evaluations of child and maternal health policies; financial incentives and sanctions in healthcare utilisation and planning; and organ donation and organ trafficking policies.
She also has recognised expertise in evaluation standards for research and government and is part of the internationally recognised academic team that developed reporting and quality standards for theory-driven realist evaluation.
Professor Manzano answering audience questions.
Ana delivered her lecture, “The Detective Work of Evaluation: Notes from the Field,” to an audience of colleagues, students, family and friends.
The lecture saw her her reflect on her personal, professional and academic journey as a methodologist and an expert in theory-driven evaluation, often working as the only social scientist in interdisciplinary teams.
Audience applause after Professor Manzano's lecture.
Ana traced her work across the health and social policy settings in the UK, Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia, exploring how realist and theory-driven evaluation approaches have been applied to complex policy areas such as financial incentives and sanctions in healthcare utilisation. She also discussed her contribution to strengthening evaluation standards and institutional learning.
The lecture was followed by a Q&A session, and finally by a drinks reception.
Professor Manzano talking to friends and colleagues after her inaugural lecture.
The thirteenth Faculty of Social Sciences Inaugural Lecture will be delivered by the School of Politics and International Studies’ Professor Stuart McAnulla at 4pm on Wednesday 25 February 2026.
If you are not a colleague or postgraduate researcher in the Faculty of Social Sciences and would like to be added to the mailing list for the series, please email Dr Izzy Jenkinson (Faculty Events Coordinator) at I.K.S.Jenkinson@leeds.ac.uk.
