The roadshow comes as the MRS embarks on “a significant period of change” with the aim of increasing the value of what it offers to members, reaching out to new members and “better reflecting the research sector’s dynamism and diversity”.

The organisation says it wants to come up with a “new vision” for its future, which will include new products and services, more active professional networks and a refreshed constitution.

Four events are planned in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and London in January, February and March (a further date in Glasgow has been postponed). Comments can also be submitted by email.

“Having been a commissioner of research for 25 years, no one needs to sell me the importance of evidence-based decision-making,” said Frost, who joined the MRS from HM Revenue & Customs in November and has also worked at Shell and the BBC.

“If we’re going to meet the challenge of actually talking to decision-makers and making ourselves heard, we need to be more agile. We need to change. We’d like to hear from you,” she said.