Professor (Dr.) Margaret Topping is Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement at Queen’s University Belfast. She is also Professor of French and Intercultural Communication, and her current research centres on debates around: travel, migration and mobility; cross-cultural communication and representation; and the public value of the Arts and Humanities. Her recent book, The Humanities Pandemic: Towards an Essential Services Approach (Palgrave, 2023) argues for the importance of the Humanities in tackling global challenges such as Covid. Margaret is also involved in a range of social innovation initiatives, both within Queen’s University and in the wider community, focused on supporting young people to achieve their potential.