Cultivating Connections: Networking for Impact Professionals
Networking is often described as a career essential, but for research impact professionals it plays a far more strategic role. Effective networking is not about collecting contacts. It is about building trusted relationships that support research translation, engagement, and real-world impact over time.
In impact work, progress rarely happens in isolation. Whether you are supporting researchers to engage policy makers, working with industry partners, or strengthening community connections, your professional network becomes a critical enabler of success.
Why networking matters in research impact
Research impact is inherently relational. Strong outcomes depend on collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and systems. Networking allows impact professionals to:
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Learn from peers navigating similar institutional and funding environments
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Share practical tools, templates, and approaches that save time and effort
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Identify partners who can strengthen impact pathways and translation plans
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Build visibility and credibility for the impact profession itself
Professional associations and conferences, such as those run by European Association of Research Managers and Administrators, play an important role in creating structured spaces for these connections. They bring together research managers, impact practitioners, and research leaders from diverse contexts, enabling both formal learning and informal exchange.
Networking as an intentional practice
One of the most common misconceptions about networking is that it should happen organically. While relationships do grow over time, effective networking benefits from intention and strategy, particularly in a field as complex as research impact.
Rather than asking “Who should I meet?”, a more useful question is “What kind of impact work am I trying to strengthen?”
Your answer might relate to:
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Policy engagement and influence
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Industry collaboration and commercialisation
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Community-led or consumer-driven research
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Impact evaluation and evidence collection
Clarifying this helps you focus your networking efforts and recognise valuable connections when they emerge.
Practical networking strategies for impact professionals
Set clear intentions
Before attending an event, conference, or online forum, be clear about what you hope to gain. This might include learning from others’ impact case studies, finding collaborators, or understanding how impact is assessed in different systems.
Develop a clear professional message
Be prepared to explain, in plain language, who you are, what you do, and how you support impact. This is particularly important when speaking with people outside your immediate field.
Be proactive, not transactional
Initiating conversations can feel uncomfortable, but most meaningful connections start with curiosity rather than self-promotion. Ask about others’ challenges, projects, and interests.
Act as a connector
Impact professionals are uniquely positioned to link people across disciplines and sectors. Introducing others who share complementary interests builds trust and strengthens your role within the network.
Follow up and sustain relationships
Networking does not end when the event finishes. A short follow-up message on email or LinkedIn can turn a brief conversation into an ongoing professional relationship.
Learning from global impact communities
Many impact professionals strengthen their practice by engaging with international communities, such as Research Impact Canada. Learning from different funding systems, policy environments, and institutional cultures broadens perspective and helps avoid reinventing the wheel.
Conversations with experienced practitioners, including leaders such as Connie Tang, consistently highlight that networking is a skill that develops over time. Like impact itself, it requires reflection, effort, and sustained engagement.
Final thoughts
Networking is not an optional extra for impact professionals. It is a core capability that underpins effective research translation, partnership building, and long-term impact outcomes.
By approaching networking with intention and generosity, you not only strengthen your own practice but also contribute to a more connected and capable impact community. The relationships you invest in today often become the foundation for the impact achieved tomorrow.