On 13th November 2024, we had the pleasure of attending the Personal Financial Wellbeing Research Conference at Aston Business School in Birmingham. The event was organised by the Centre for Personal Financial Wellbeing (CPFW) at Aston University in collaboration with the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). This annual event brought together academics, practitioners and policymakers to discuss the latest research and strategies for improving personal financial wellbeing.
Our role in the Personal Financial Wellbeing Research conference
As a collaborator with the conference organisers, Research Retold played an active role in the event. A month before the event, we ran an online workshop focusing on how researchers can create visually engaging and effective research posters. Our session encouraged attendees to think creatively about how they present their research, making it more accessible and impactful for a broader audience.
On the day of the conference, we continued these discussions at our stall. There, we engaged with attendees about research communication strategies. We enjoyed meeting researchers, learning about their work, and sharing insights. Most importantly, we discussed how they could enhance the visibility and reach of their findings. Dixon Wong, manager of the CPFW at Aston University, shared:
The extended poster sessions will feature as a key element of our conference. Ahead of the conference we have engaged research communications experts from Research Retold to share the latest best practice in using visuals to capture the essence of research results in an accessible and engaging way in an online workshop. We look forward to welcoming the team at our conference and seeing the final posters.” Dixon Wong, manager of CPFW, Aston University
Research Retold’s stall at the Personal Financial Wellbeing Research Conference 2024.
In addition to our involvement in this conference, we have collaborated with CPFW earlier in 2024 to design a banner for the projects section of their centre website. This visual not only highlights how all of CPFW’s research projects align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but it also reinforces the real-world impact of their work.
Banner for the Center for Personal Financial Wellbeing (CPFW)’s website on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by Research Retold.
A space for meaningful conversations
We were particularly impressed by how the conference created an open space for dialogue between different sectors. The discussions ranged from theoretical frameworks to practical interventions. As a result, this reinforced the importance of making research accessible and actionable for those who can use it to create meaningful change. As Mihaela Gruia, Director of Research Retold, reflected:
“The conference had a great mix of engaging talks and panel conversations as well as networking opportunities where people could connect. It was great to see the range of collaborations beyond academia with various charities, local organisations, and communities. A true blend of academia and the ‘real world.’”
We left the event feeling inspired by the innovative approaches being taken to enhance financial wellbeing. Moreover, it was encouraging to see the commitment of researchers and practitioners working in this space.
One of the highlights of the conference was the extended poster session. Here, researchers showcased new and emerging research related to financial wellbeing. Having supported researchers in developing their posters in our workshop, it was exciting to see their final work on display. Even more rewarding was hearing how our guidance had helped them communicate their findings more effectively.
Looking ahead
The key takeaway from the Personal Financial Wellbeing Research Conference 2024 was the ongoing need for collaboration. Moving forward, we are excited to continue supporting researchers in making their findings clear, engaging and impactful. Our goal is to help them make their findings clear, engaging, and impactful.