Sapna Marwaha

Sapna Marwaha is the founder and CEO of Formation Consultancy, specialising in inclusive governance, research security, and research culture. With a background in law and over a decade of experience supporting research-intensive institutions, she advises governments, funders, and universities on building resilient, inclusive research ecosystems. Sapna combines her legal expertise with a track record in organisational transformation to deliver sustainable culture change in an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

Her consultancy work includes leading and co‑authoring sector reports and programmes, such as Complex Collaborations: Efficiency, Equity, Quality and Security in International Research (Research England‑funded, ARMA‑led), which explored trusted research in the UK; Stronger Cooperation, Safer Collaboration (UK FCDO Science & Technology Network‑funded, Loughborough University‑led), which examined European research security; and Reimagining Governance for a Flourishing Research Culture (Wellcome‑funded, Durham University‑led), which piloted shadow committee structures to embed more inclusive governance.

Sapna is active in governance roles across the sector. She serves as Independent Chair of the Membership Committee at the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and as a Trustee at Research Data Scotland. She is also Co‑Chair of the R&D Steering Committee at NHS Blood and Transplant. Previously, Sapna was Deputy Chair of the Association of Research Managers and Administrators (ARMA) and a Development Board Member for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Science and Health (EDIS).