Executive Director, Capability & Innovation, BBSRC - UKRI
Karen studied for a degree in biology and PhD in microbiology. Before joining BBSRC, she worked in commercial research and development with both a small biotechnology company and a large corporate. Karen has extensive experience within BBSRC, and the research councils in a broad range of research and innovation strategy areas. She has held a number of senior roles in what is now the BBSRC Capability and Innovation domain, including leading BBSRC business engagement activities, and establishing a knowledge exchange and commercialisation team. Karen is Executive lead for the BBSRC research and innovation campus strategy,
As Executive Director of Capability and Innovation at BBSRC Karen’s responsibilities include:
Innovation strategy, particularly through research and innovation campuses
Business engagement
Programmes supporting innovation and knowledge exchange including enabling the emergence of bioscience based businesses
People and talent, supporting the development of a flexible and diverse workforce for modern bioscience including through studentships and fellowship programmes
BBSRC nominated Director on the Board of the AIP LLP, UKi2S Seed Fund, and Plant Bioscience Ltd.