ASSOCIATE

Key skills

- Innovation programme leadership
- Stakeholder management and partnership building
- Startup and scale-up coaching
- Business support design and delivery
- Workshop facilitation and mentoring
- Data-driven strategy and performance management

Experience

BRITE Innovation Programme (Head): Directed a £10.5m ERDF-funded initiative delivering five innovation programmes, including 1:1 coaching, workshops and funding support for SMEs.

Digital Catapult (Programme Lead): Managed the UK’s first 5G Testbed and accelerator programme (£1.2m), supporting SME innovation.

Plus X Innovation Hubs / Wired Sussex / Entrepreneurial Spark: Designed and delivered strategic coaching, workshops and business support for startups and scale-ups.

Background in FMCG and global corporates: Brought commercial expertise into public-funded innovation and economic development programmes.

Qualifications

- BA & MA in Management & Organisational Behaviour – Lancaster University
- ILM Level 7 – Executive & Senior Level Coaching & Mentoring

Honours and contributions

20+ years’ experience leading multimillion-pound innovation and business support programmes

Specialist in economic development, entrepreneurship and digital transformation

Recognised for designing impactful business growth ecosystems across the tech and creative sectors