I am a mother to two amazing boys aged 7 and 11. I love life outdoors – walks, runs, being in the garden. I have a brilliant, supportive husband. I live in a lovely part of the UK close to family and friends.
At school I enjoyed most subjects and struggled at A Level to work out where to focus. I chose Chemistry, Maths, Physics and Art in the end. I went to Bristol University and in my first year studied joint Maths and Chemistry. In the second year I decided to major on Chemistry. Following my degree I did a PhD in synthetic inorganic chemistry. My PhD was sponsored by a chemicals company and I spent time working at the company. I enjoyed my PhD but I did not want to continue in academia and I also wasn’t keen to work at a chemicals company.
My first job was a portfolio manager at EPSRC. Since then I have worked in various roles in the Research Councils, with Government Departments and more recently at Innovate UK. My early career focussed on impact from research and business-university collaboration.
In 2016 I started working on diversity and inclusion. As Head on EDI programmes I lead Innovate UK’s work to promote diversity and inclusion in business innovation. This involves initiating targeted interventions to address under representation and identifying opportunities to make all of Innovate UK’s support for business more visible and accessible. I have introduced high profile campaigns and programmes for Women in Innovation and Young Innovators.
In 2016 initiated a new Women in Innovation programme and campaign to find more women with amazing ideas for innovation in the UK and provide them with access to the right support at the right time; to raise visibility of women innovators, challenge perceptions and create new role models to inspire other women and future generations.
Prior to 2016, 1 in 7 applications for Innovate UK support were led by women. Since we launched the Women in Innovation programme we have seen a 70% boost in the number of women leading applications to Innovate UK, we have built a new community of over 9500 women innovators and we have invested £5.1 million into supported 118 women in innovation award winners who are changing the world with their innovations.
Did you ever sit down and plan your career?
Nope! I look back now and wonder what would have been different if I had had a plan. I feel I am exactly where I want to be. I have enjoyed every job so far, but my current role is a perfect. A complete fit with my values – what is important to me – and in addition to this I can see how my work is having impact which is hugely rewarding. It is such a complex and fast moving agenda – I love learning, working with others.
A few weeks ago my mum (who had been having a sort out) found a leaving card for me from my primary school. It was so interesting to see that the teachers flagged back then how I “cared passionately about equality of opportunity”. I love that!
Have you faced any challenges along the way?
Of course. In my earlier career I was commuting to London in the week and felt pressure (self imposed) to get in early and finish late. I worked on the trains during travel. I was manging lots of relationships and wanted to be super responsive and please everyone. I loved it but at one point I think I burnt out and lost it a bit.
I have had two periods of maternity leave and when I returned for the second time it was particularly tough for me. There had been some major organisation changes while I was away and I felt invisible for a while on my return and a bit at sea. In actual fact, it was this disruption that led to the role I am in now.
And then home schooling and Covid – need I say anymore.
It is hard at the time but many of the challenges I have faced have really helped me to learn lessons and they have also opened up new opportunities.
What has been your biggest achievement to date?
When I started in my current role it was a new position and a completely new area of focus for Innovate UK. The initial success with the Women in Innovation programme in 2016 was a massive highlight. I now lead a portfolio of high impact programmes, I have built a brilliant team and the EDI agenda is a top, top priority for Innovate UK.
What one thing do you believe has been a major factor in you achieving success?
I believe in what I do. To bring others with you this is essential.
How do you feel about mentoring? Have you mentored anyone or are you someone’s mentee?
I think mentoring is brilliant, also coaching, sponsorship and reverse mentoring. I have mentored and I have people who I see as mentors to me.
With the programmes I support (Women in Innovation and Young Innovators) we match our award winners with innovation and growth specialists, with senior business mentors and provide connections to a whole range of people who can support them in some way.
But, on top of all of this I value peer support. For me personally this has been invaluable and in Innovate UK we are creating more spaces and opportunities for peer mentoring. Our award winners gain massively from working together, peer to peer support, sharing similar experiences.
If you could change one thing to accelerate the pace of change for Gender Equality, what would it be?
There is no one thing – no silver bullet – unfortunately it is not that easy.
Representation – if you can see you can be it. Often stated and nothing new but this is so true. We need more visible role models for women and girls to address stereotypes and spark interest in innovation.
I would love to see overall a better gender balance and contribution of men and women at work and outside work. This includes flexible working for all, shared maternity and paternity leave but also seeing more balance of responsibility for roles outside work – caring responsibilities, household chores…
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self what would it be?
Everyone is a person. No matter how senior, how scarily intelligent, how dis interested in you, how difficult you perceive someone to be, deep down they are a person too and will at some point have felt how you feel about them about someone else.
Be braver, go for it.
What is your next challenge and what are you hoping to achieve in the future?
For the UK to be an innovation super power we need to realise the full potential of diverse talent now and for the future. We need an innovation system that works for everyone.
Recently I have been working on a new, very bold and ambitious initiative that we will be launching soon. The focus will be creating new opportunities – to inspire, involve and invest.
I am very excited about this – if we get it right the impact will be huge – on all the people and organisations who engage with the initiative and more widely on our economy and our society.
