Andy Darley

Meet Andy Darley, IDRM's building, facilities and laboratory Manager. He is responsible for ensuring the IDRM remains a safe, comfortable, and compliant place to carry out research.

Can you give a brief overview of your career trajectory so far? 

I joined Oxford University’s Insurance Office, in Central Finance, in 1998 and spent 12 years dealing with underwriting and claims. In 2012 I decided to move into property management and joined Kellogg College, spending 2 years looking after their Victorian manor houses in North Oxford. An opportunity to look after multiple buildings on the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter came up with OU Estates in 2014 so I moved there, and also took on the Innovation Building after its’ opening in 2018. From there I moved to the Big Data Institute in January 2020, finally landing in the IDRM in May 2023. 

What has been your highlight this past year at the IDRM?

Joining the IDRM Team and being part of this innovative venture, and helping to enable interdisciplinary research is very pleasing. Taking on a new building and understanding the various behind-the-scenes systems has been a lot of fun so far! 

How have you contributed to IDRM life? 

Hopefully we’ve built a team who are approachable and interested in enabling research in the best possible environment. 

What do you look forward to most this year? 

Developing relationships with the various groups and PIs in the Institute, and also developing our team.

What do you do outside of the Institute?

I am a University Bedel, attending ceremonial events (Google it!)… chairman and coach of my youngest son’s youth football club... keen cricketer... passable guitarist/bassist... numismatist...