Aurora

I help people turn ambitious ideas into collective action.

By bringing together diverse voices I help the people shaping more innovative and inclusive local economies to build strategies, action plans and collaborations that turn ambition into action and lasting impact.

Network

Great ideas need the right people around the table. I help organisations connect ideas, people, places and opportunities that don’t naturally come together – creating partnerships and programmes that are stronger than the sum of their parts.

I help to connect:

Policy with delivery

Strategy with implementation

Priorities with investment opportunities

Local ambition with European opportunity

Under served communities with opportunities

Ideas with collaborators

Services

My work combines strategy, facilitation, research and partnership building to help organisations turn ambitious ideas into practical, deliverable programmes which benefit local communities.

Every assignment is different, but most involve a combination of the services below.

  • Strategy and action planning
  • Partnership and ecosystem development
  • Stakeholder engagement and co-creation
  • Workshop design and facilitation
  • Capacity building and training
  • Research, consultancy and insight

Experience

Recent examples of my work across the UK and Europe are shown below. Each project has been shaped through close collaboration with clients and partners to deliver practical, lasting impact.

I support cross sector partnerships to co-create and deliver plans, programmes and plans which support inclusive economic development. Examples include:

  • OneTech – Co-founded and scaled one of the UK’s leading inclusive entrepreneurship organisations, building a coalition of corporate, public and community partners that has helped create over 800 jobs, supported founders to raise more than £35m and influenced national thinking on diversity in the startup ecosystem (2016-2024).
  • Inclusive Health & Life Sciences Coalition – Mobilised 50+ local authorities, industry, universities and health partners to co-create a shared investment prospectus, ensuring growth in the health and life sciences sector delivers greater opportunities and benefits for local communities (2022-2025).
  • Tech SY Action Plan – Designed and facilitated a region-wide stakeholder engagement process bringing together businesses, universities, investors and the public sector to co-create a five-year action plan to strengthen South Yorkshire’s technology and innovation ecosystem (2025-2026).
  • City of London High Growth Proposition – Led the co-creation of a new strategic proposition to strengthen support for high-growth businesses, working with investors, corporates, ecosystem organisations and the public sector to develop an integrated model that helps scale-ups start, stay and grow (2025-2026).

I have worked in all but 2 EU countries, supporting exchanges of experience and learning in regions and cities. Examples include:

  • Vaasa Innovation Compass (Finland) – Supporting the City of Vaasa and regional partners to co-create a long-term innovation and competitiveness strategy, combining international benchmarking, foresight, stakeholder engagement and governance design to strengthen participation in European R&I programmes (2026).
  • European Urban Initiative (EUI) – Moderator of City-to-City Exchanges, enabling cities to learn from one another through structured peer learning and practical implementation planning. Also an External Assessor for Urban Innovative Actions and the European Urban Initiative, evaluating innovative urban projects from across Europe (2015 to present).
  • URBACT – Lead Expert and Capitalisation Expert across multiple European networks, helping cities exchange experience, adapt proven practice, co-create local action plans and translate learning into practical policy and delivery. Author of several European publications on jobs, innovation and inclusive growth (2009 to present).
  • European capacity building – Designed and delivered capacity-building programmes for city practitioners across Europe, including URBACT’s Keeping Up with Digital Transition curriculum, helping city authorities strengthen innovation ecosystems, facilitation skills and integrated urban development (2023-2024).

About

30+ years helping people turn ambitious ideas into action for stronger, more innovative and inclusive local economies.

I believe the best ideas emerge when diverse people come together around a shared challenge, are willing to listen, and have the confidence to try something different. That’s the thread running through my career – from local partnerships in the UK to innovation networks spanning almost every EU Member State.

I’m known for combining strategic thinking with a practical, collaborative approach. Whether working with local authorities, universities, businesses, investors or community organisations, I enjoy finding common ground, building trusted relationships and turning ambitious ideas into deliverable action.

The best work happens when people are curious, committed and open to different perspectives; when they’re prepared to challenge each other constructively; and willing to believe in the art of the possible. We take the work seriously – but not ourselves.

Outside work, I’m:

  • an advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion and entrepreneurship
  • proud to have founded OneTech, helping create a more inclusive startup ecosystem
  • the proud mum of two smart young women who inspire me every day
  • a volunteer business mentor
  • a qualified yoga teacher and lifelong yogi
  • happiest when juggling several interesting projects at once.

Contact

If you’d like to explore a project, collaboration or simply have a conversation,

I’d love to hear from you.

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