About ARO

ARO aims to add value to the work of England’s regional observatories by promoting collaboration, and communicating their contribution to the shared aim of supporting evidence-based policy-making.

ARO will:

1. Work internally, to promote coordination and collaboration amongst members, enabling members to share information and experience, and to identify areas of expertise of benefit to the network.
2. Work externally, to lobby, promote and influence on behalf of members – representing their needs, encouraging others to work in partnership with observatories and trying to reduce duplication of effort.


ARO activities are directed by a Board, chaired on a rolling basis by the director of a single regional observatory. A permanent secretariat function is provided by the ARO Coordinator.

ARO Board

East of England: Glenn Athey, Director, Insight East
East Midlands: Hazel Mitchell, Coordinator, Intelligence East Midlands, and Craig Bickerton, Principal Economist, emda
London: GLA's Data Management & Analysis Group (representation under revision)
North East: Jon Carling, Head, North East Regional Information Partnership
North West: Rebecca Riley, Head, North West Regional Intelligence Unit
South East: Kate Aulman, South East England Partnership Board
South West: Vinita Nawathe, Managing Director, South West Observatory
West Midlands: Rosie Paskins, Chief Executive, West Midlands Regional Observatory
Yorkshire & the Humber: Clare Johnson, Director, Yorkshire Futures