I am passionate about inspiring the next generation of researchers to bridge the gap between academia and the commercial sector, enhancing their communication efficacy and their understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship. I excel in supporting clients through the intricacies of innovation development, from supporting partnerships, exploring opportunities and supporting fundraising. What defines me at Anchored In is my ability to work with clients to craft compelling narratives, transforming technology and ideas into impactful stories. My commitment lies in propelling innovation and facilitating seamless collaboration between academia and industry.

I bring a solid foundation in Finance and Banking from George Bacovia University (Romania), where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Economics, and then earned an AAT Advanced Diploma in Accountancy. This educational background has equipped me with the skills to navigate complex financial landscapes, ensuring the efficient evaluation of programs and opportunities while recognising the essential connections between technology, management, and entrepreneurship in driving business growth. I pay close attention to detail and innately understand the numerical dynamics behind strategic decisions. This allows me to analyse data quickly, identify patterns, and assess the impact of organisational or project changes. While my expertise lies in finance, my previous experience in hospitality and events has sharpened my communication and organisational skills. These roles have enhanced my client-focused approach and cultivated my ability to solve problems with agility and creativity. Recently, I have furthered my education with a course in Business Management at LSBU, while also embarking on my CIMA journey towards Chartered status. This ongoing development strengthens my analytical capabilities and my ability to support and enhance our clients' strategic decision-making processes, ensuring I contribute meaningfully to their long-term success.

I have several years of experience in the field of Quantum Technologies and Quantum Computing, with a particular focus on photonic platforms. Before joining Anchored In, I worked as a Researcher in Quantum Physics at Crypto Quantique, where I gained valuable experience in Quantum Random Number Generation for Cyber Security applications. I have had the privilege of training and working in world-renowned research groups, including the group of Prof. P. Mataloni in Rome and the group of Prof. I. Walmsley at the University of Oxford. During this time, I specialised in light generation and manipulation using free space and fibre-integrated optical platforms. I hold a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford, where I was awarded a Marie Curie ITN scholarship as part of the PICQUE project within the EU Horizon 2020 program, which focused on developing the next generation of quantum information scientists.

I am passionate about international collaborations, working with people from different countries, cultures and speaking various languages. I have extensive experience in European Programmes and funding schemes (from FP7, ERDF, H2020 to Horizon Europe). Before joining Anchored In, I was European Programmes Manager at Innovate UK KTN (part of UK Research and Innovation) and worked closely with the UK National Contact Points for Horizon Europe and the UK Science and Innovation Network across Europe. I love to support and provide guidance and advice to UK applicants wanting to access Horizon Europe or other international funding opportunities and help them to identify the right call topics and potential consortium partners. I was involved in managing and delivering numerous EU projects as a Coordinator, Work Package and Task Leader, which allowed me to gain hands-on experience of what it’s like to be part of international R&D collaborations and the impact, value and benefits they bring.

With a career spanning 30 years, I have honed my expertise across various domains, including industrial design, model-making, prototype engineering, and most recently, an in-depth exploration into regenerative design. Throughout my journey, I have had the opportunity to work with startups, individual entrepreneurs, and large multinational companies, providing design consultancy and hands-on expertise. I co-founded The Imagination Factory, where I served as Technology Director. Through this venture, I delivered diverse projects—from complex medical devices for companies like Merck Serono, to conceptual products for Samsung, and even bespoke kinetic displays for a boutique jewelry store in Mayfair. At Anchored In, I now bring my extensive experience to support training and consultancy in Design Thinking for Innovation, helping others apply creative problem-solving to drive impactful results.

I have worked in the semiconductor industry since 1980 in a number of UK & international positions encompassing silicon and compound semiconductor technologies for Power, Photonic and High Frequency applications. Most recently, I have delivered innovation programmes in Power Electronics, Machines and Drives under the Driving the Electric Revolution Innovate UK investment. I have a PhD and BSc in Chemistry from Durham University.

My background includes business incubation, startups, sales, marketing and new business development. I specialise in the design and delivery of training programs geared towards academic knowledge exchange and technology transfer, business startup and SME growth. These programs equip people with essential entrepreneurial skills that foster strong stakeholder relationships. I deliver workshops and 1:1 coaching for a number of national and international programmes including Innovate UKs ICURe, CyberASAP and Global Business Innovators (GBIP) programmes, Cassini Accelerator, Space Hubs Network and ESA Business Incubation Centres. I love mentoring and signposting, and have an exceptional reputation of helping companies to access growth funding, opening my extensive network, extending across sectors and industries with particular knowledge of the space industry, to those I support.

I previously worked as Head of Clean Energy & Infrastructure at Innovate UK KTN, which is part of UK Research and Innovation. In this role, I led a multidisciplinary team covering infrastructure systems, urban living, energy, construction, and water. I revised the strategic direction of the Energy team, introducing a systems approach that embraced technologies from both outside and within the energy sector. Additionally, I introduced a broader socio-economic element to the Energy Team’s agenda, supporting the emergence of new innovation opportunities for the community. I was also the Senior Lead in establishing the Infrastructure Industry Innovation Partnership (i3P), an industry-led innovation group that brings together over 25 major infrastructure projects and supply chains. Prior to KTN, I spent 13 years in the research community, where I worked as the Business Development Manager for the TWI Power Industry Group. In this role, I acted as both an industry specialist and a technology generalist. I began my career as an aerospace engineer, serving for 20 years in the Royal Air Force. Throughout my career, I have held various positions, including: Chair of the Industry Advisory and Management Board for the Solar Network Plus Chair of the Solar Energy Industry Initiative Member of the Materials UK Energy Materials Working Group Member of the Steering Group of the Low Carbon Energy Development Network Member of the IET Energy Sector Executive Committee Member of the STFC 21st Century Challenge Panel and the STFC Challenge Led Applied Systems Programme Panel.