Kezia Williamson

As Head of Place, I lead on the development of this strategic priority, delivering on Innovate UK Business Connect’s commitment to connect national and regional innovation to encourage the distribution of economic and societal well-being across the UK. My focus is on doing activity in places for the benefit of those places.

I have worked in innovation commercialisation for 15 years, both within and across sectors. I have significant experience of developing programmes to enable companies to innovate. Specialising in business innovation and development through access to funding, I have facilitated numerous collaborations and helped companies and consortia across the UK to secure innovation funding.

In previous roles I have supported companies to secure early-stage equity investment, run innovation funding programmes, managed large, international, collaborative research projects, established a data-driven insights and policy unit, and pioneered our diversity and inclusion programme. My multi-disciplinary, cross sector, collaboration-focused background supports me in co-developing programmes with local partners that meet the specific needs of that place.

I sponsor or lead on a range of projects, including Net Zero Places Innovation Network, Innovate Local event programme, Women in Digital Innovation (pilot in NE England), Digital Tools for Urban Optimisation, and Cluster development and support.