Michael Donnay

Michael joined the Software Sustainability Institute in June 2025 as a Community Manager and is based at the University of Southampton. He previously managed the Digital Humanities Research Hub at the School of Advanced Study, University of London where he facilitated collaborations between researchers and artists, planned major conferences, and delivered training on a wide range of digital technology. He also served as the inaugural research community manager for the UK-Ireland Digital Humanities Association. Prior to this role he spent five years working as a stage and production manager, with a focus on new work and community-engaged theatre. 

Michael primarily supports the Society of Research Software Engineering, whose mission is to foster a research culture that recognises the vital role of software (and the people who write it) in research, and the Hidden REF campaign, which advocates for more equitable research environment that acknowledges all research outputs and everyone involved in their creation. 

Field of expertise: Community and Event Management, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Digital Arts and Humanities