About me:

Role

Chris is Director of Innovation, Impact & Business and Director of Regional Engagement within the Innovation, Impact and Business Department of the University of Exeter. Chris is responsible for the University’s regional strategy including liaison with regional stakeholders and supporting the University’s role as an anchor institution in Exeter and the wider South West Peninsula. She works closely with strategic agencies on policy and strategy and leads on the development of regional strategic and transformational projects.

Chris is also responsible for SETsquared Exeter and the running of our student entrepreneurship activities, business support and the innovation facilities at Exeter Innovation Centre and the Science Park Centre at Exeter Science Park. SETsquared Exeter is responsible for business incubation, acceleration and scale up activities, student start-ups and developing entrepreneurship skills in the research community.

Chris has overall responsibility for securing regional funding to support innovation and R&D activities. Her team is responsible for the delivery of a range of sector focused projects in Cornwall and Devon which support business and academic engagement to meet business challenges. Projects include those supporting the marine, e health, agri-tech, environment and satellite applications and data sectors.

Chris has overall responsibility for the development of the new Degree Apprenticeship offer within the University. She is responsible for the delivery of the University’s Regional Skills Strategy, overseeing projects such as the development of the skills escalator approach and proposed SW Institute for Technology.

An economist, Chris joined the University of Exeter as Director of the Marchmont Observatory, established by the University of Exeter in 1999, to develop a response to issues such as lifelong learning and the development of e learning. Establishing the first regional skills observatory with responsibility for overall strategic developments and the oversight and commissioning of research in the area of adult skills and learning. Chris also worked closely with Local Enterprise Partnerships to develop regional and local economic strategies.

Prior to that Chris had over 12 years experience working at the national level on learning, skills employment and economic regeneration issues. As Director of Strategy and Communications at the TEC national council she was responsible for the development of national policy on adult skills and business support.

Recent Publications

• A Review of the Integration of Brokerage Services in the South West, 2008
• Impact Analysis: ESF Objective 1 in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, 2008
• SWRSP Research Forum: Findings and Messages for Policy and Practice, 2008
• Migrant Workers in the South West, 2008
• RSP Statement of Priorities, 2007-2010
• Review of Skills, Enterprise and Employment in the South West, 2007
• Level 3 Skills: Challenges for South West England, 2007
• South West Skills Market - A review of demand and supply, 2006
• Regional Implementation of National Sector Skills Agreements, 2007