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The Enterprise Hub team operates out of the Academy's headquarters in Prince Philip House, London, and across the regions of the UK. We have established Enterprise Hubs in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as across the North of England, in Newcastle and Liverpool.

 

Our team is passionate about accelerating innovations, inspiring and encouraging business-minded engineers to pursue entrepreneurship, and transforming the climate for deep tech founders in the UK.

Since 2013, we have been working to support university spinouts, startups - from early stage ideation all the way to market, and scaleups to thrive in the UK and new overseas markets.

Please reach out to find out how we can help you and your business at [email protected] or by contacting a member of staff below directly.

Ana Avaliani, Director of Enterprise, presenting next to a banner

Connect with us

Meet the teams behind the Enterprise Hub, delivering programme and funding, prizes for entrepreneurs and ecosystem support for innovators, policymakers and investors across the UK. Navigate to each team below:

Ana Avaliani: Director of Enterprise

Ana leads the Academy’s UK and International entrepreneurship programmes supporting talented entrepreneurs and decision-makers to transform their breakthrough engineering and technology innovations into disruptive startups, spinouts and scale ups that solve the world's most complex environmental, economic and social challenges. Ana started her career in a telecommunications start-up with a role focusing on technology scouting, finding and implementing novel technologies. Ana has extensive experience in innovation management across public and private sectors in the UK and internationally. Prior to joining the Academy, Ana worked at PA Consulting Group, a technology and innovation consultancy firm, leading on high profile projects including the setup of the UK Lebanon Tech Hub in Lebanon, Beirut.

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

Laura Bennett: Head of Enterprise Hub

In her role as Head of Enterprise Hub, Laura has strategic and operational oversight of our UK-based national programmatic activities (Enterprise Fellowships and Shott Scale Up Accelerator) and our alumni follow-on support (Ecosystem and EXPLORE). Laura has substantial experience of designing and delivering incubation and acceleration programmes for tech entrepreneurs, and has advised European and UK regional policymakers on entrepreneurial ecosystem development and entrepreneurship support. Before joining the Academy, Laura led on an EU-funded ecosystem development project in South Yorkshire which involved embedding and co-designing new accelerator programmes to the region. Laura holds a PhD in entrepreneurial ecosystem development from the University of Sheffield.

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

Enterprise Fellowships

Angus Baker: Senior Programme Manager, Enterprise Fellowships

Angus is the first point of contact for university-based entrepreneurs wishing to spinout out and recent graduates starting up. He is responsible for the management of the Enterprise Fellowships programme, from design through to assessment and monitoring entrepreneurs. In policy work, he is the lead author of the Entrepreneur’s Handbook and contributor to the Spotlight on Spinouts report series. Prior experience includes running various research grants programmes and the implementation of the Academy’s Grant Management System and processes.

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

Urszula Stawik: Programme Manager, Enterprise Fellowships

Urszula enables startup and spinout founders to progress through the Hub’s Enterprise Fellowships programme and on their personal and business growth trajectory. Her previous experience includes delivery of engagement campaigns and activities for UK-based SMEs and global communities of software engineers. She also built and rolled out programmes aimed at the adoption of digital technologies by SMEs, and she has strengthening presence of women-led business in the sector in Greater Manchester.  She is also proud of her voluntary work embedding SDGs with rural and tribal communities in Northern India.

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

Shott Scale Up Accelerator

Cristina Lisii: Senior Programme Manager, Shott Scale Up Accelerator

Cristina leads Shott Scale Up Accelerator, from designing the programme, through to connecting SME leaders to world-class experts and mentors. Her mission is to help scaleup leaders to grow world-class engineering and technology companies for the benefit of society. Her prior experience includes: setting up a community of over 1000 startups and spinouts from 17 emerging economies, and facilitating open innovation programmes for corporations like Ford and Mars. In addition, she has coordinated the application of human-centred design for the re-engineering of public services in Moldova, while working for the United Nations Development Programme.

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

Daniel Boggon: Programme Manager, Shott Scale Up Accelerator

Daniel is responsible for the management and delivery of Shott Scale Up Accelerator, a programme helping leaders of high-growth SMEs overcome the challenges faced as they transition from starting, to scaling innovative engineering and technology businesses. Daniel’s experience is in mechanical and environmental engineering, with a professional focus on business operations he is motivated by a drive to promote innovation in entrepreneurship across the UK’s engineering ecosystem.

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

Amman Mujahid: Team Coordinator

Amman works as a Team Coordinator within the Enterprise Hub, providing administrative support to help teams deliver projects.  She facilitates a smooth flow of operation and management between the Hub's entrepreneurial programmes. Amman also holds a Master's in Engineering Management, which followed her Bachelor's in Aviation Maintenance Engineering.

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

MacRobert Prize

Patrick Woodcock: MacRobert Award & Project Manager, Enterprise

Patrick is responsible for the management of the MacRobert Award, the UK’s longest running and most prestigious prize for engineering innovation. Patrick is passionate about celebrating the extraordinary work of UK engineers whose innovations have a global impact. Patrick also leads on special projects within the Enterprise Directorate, including delivering the Enterprise Hub’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

Regional Engagement

Gillian Gregg: Associate Director, Regional Engagement

Responsible for establishing the Enterprise Hub’s first regional node in 2020, Gillian now oversees regional engagement across the UK, with Hubs in Wales and Scotland and a Regional Talent Engines programme supporting early stage founders in Northern England and Northern Ireland. Based in Belfast, Gillian also works closely with the Irish Academy of Engineering on all-island/UK-Ire initiatives. Having started her career in the private sector she has worked in R&D&I economic policy research, across both the public and university sectors for over 20 years. Gillian’s experience working with the Advanced Manufacturing, Materials and Engineering sector provides the Hub with particular insight from across a wide range of regional stakeholder perspectives.

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

Emma Loedel: Senior Enterprise Manager, Scotland

Emma is responsible for leading the development and delivery of the first Enterprise Hub in Scotland. Emma has a background in Biomedical Engineering and initially entered the startup space working for a prosthetics startup in Colombia.  Emma’s passion for tech and innovation has continued through roles including business development in a high growth tech spinout, delivering events for startup communities covering topics from deep tech through to creative industries. She has built on her international experience and embedded herself in the Glasgow and Scottish ecosystem. Her diverse expertise positions her well to champion and support the growth of engineering and technology entrepreneurs across Scotland.


Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

Daniel Lowe: Regional Hub Manager, Northern Ireland

Daniel is responsible for the day-to-day work of the Enterprise Hub Northern Ireland, developing activity to identify and support the next generation of engineering entrepreneurs from across Northern Ireland to engage with Academy programmes. His previous management experience includes the delivery of Business/STEM scholarships for undergraduate-level students to study at universities across the United States.

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

Mike McMahon: Senior Enterprise Manager, Wales

Mike is responsible for setting up the Enterprise Hub in Wales, with support from the AgorIP Project and their wider network. His remit will help enhance our delivery of support to the many excellent engineering and technology entrepreneurs across Wales. Mike’s background is within engineering project management, commercialisation in the HEI environment and managing higher level research projects with SMEs across Wales.

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

Kathryn McKenna: Senior Enterprise Manager, Ireland

Kathryn is the Academy's Senior Enterprise Manager for Ireland, based at our Enterprise Hub in Belfast. She manages the all-island and UK/Ireland enterprise portfolio which includes the joint Academies' work funded by InterTradeIreland. Kathryn has an extensive background in project management, diverse stakeholder collaboration, leading and delivering research, and providing evidence to inform economic policy and strategic decision making. Prior to joining the Academy, Kathryn led a multidisciplinary team within the Department for Economy, NI to support Matrix (the Northern Ireland science industry panel).

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn

Regional Talent Engines

Sarah Gummer: Senior Programme Manager, Regional Talent Engines

Sarah leads the Regional Talent Engines programme across four regions of the UK and is responsible for shaping this new initiative of the Enterprise Hub. Sarah has previously managed international research grants programmes, led an international startup support programme working with 16 emerging economies and worked with university-based entrepreneurs. Having started her career as a project manager in the translation industry she found a passion for supporting entrepreneurs and the role that innovation can play in regional development.

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

Lee Gosling: Programme Manager, Regional Talent Engines

Lee is responsible for managing the Regional Talent Engines programme in North West England and Northern Ireland. He has had a varied career in senior roles across public, private and third sector organisations and as a founder and business owner. He has worked with companies of all sizes and stages from startups to blue-chips, offering leadership support, helping them to establish and grow and embedding continuous innovation into their organisational culture. He is also a serial social entrepreneur, creating enterprises tackling social issues in innovative ways. His expertise is in connecting people, developing leadership, and building resilience through innovation.

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

Dale Woods: Programme Manager, Regional Talent Engines

Dale manages the Regional Talent Engines programme in Yorkshire & Humber, and the North East of England. Starting his career as Operations Manager for a large factory installations company, he then co-founded his own company specialising in supplying and testing lifting equipment. The company grew and supported many large heavy engineering, chemical and construction companies throughout the UK and Europe. He sold from the company in 2018 and worked for HMRC until taking up a position with the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2021.

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

Ecosystem

Katie Saddleton: Senior Ecosystem Manager

Katie leads the Enterprise Hub’s ecosystem work supporting Enterprise Hub Members as well as engaging investors, policy makers and corporates. Katie established the Hub’s deep tech alumni programme EXPLORE, overseeing the Hub’s recent international missions to Greater Boston and San Francisco. Prior to joining the Academy, Katie worked at the Royal Society working in industry and innovation funding and led career development and engagement for researchers both in the UK and internationally. She has extensive experience supporting disruptive innovators and academics and a passion for supporting deep tech to thrive in the UK.

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

Stefon Williams: Ecosystem Manager - Digital and Physical Infrastructure

Stefon is responsible for engaging Hub Members in this Digital and Physical Infrastructure vertical and helping them to learn, grow and connect with stakeholders, such as investors. He has a mixed professional background which includes experience in sales and supporting young people and nascent entrepreneurs. He loves to network and learn from others, and has an interest in entrepreneurship, innovation and design-thinking.

 

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

 

Communications

Helen Mincher: Senior Marketing and Communications Manager

Helen leads on marketing for enterprise at the Academy, which includes the Enterprise Hub, LIF and Regional. Her career spans the social impact space, as well as big tech. Helen founded her own activewear brand, made from recycled plastic, as well as worked on large briefs for think tank, Power to Change, the start up support, School for Social Entrepreneurs and UK charity,  Cycling UK. Prior to this she led marketing teams at Yahoo! and LinkedIn.

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

 

Catherine Uduoise: Digital Communications Officer

Catherine is responsible for overseeing the Enterprise Hub's digital communications, looking after the Enterprise Hub's social media channels, website blog content and e-newsletters alongside Amalya. Catherine's background is in Multimedia Journalism where she honed in on her passion for all things digital. 

Email: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn.

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