EDINBURGH INNOVATIONS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Head of Business Development, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science
- Head of College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science Account Team
After completing an MA at the University of Glasgow, Aileen Appleyard spent the first 10 years of her career focused on policy and economic development.
During this time she completed an MBA at the University of Strathclyde. This was followed by a period in financial services and management consultancy. As a Consultant and Change Programme Manager Aileen was successful in shaping and implementing business growth plans in professional services, financial services and education sectors.
Aileen has successfully directed and delivered strategic change initiatives cross-divisionally and across multiple regions.
Aileen joined Edinburgh Innovations in 2015 to lead the transformation of the Consultancy operation. In July 2020, Aileen took on the role of Head of College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science Account Team.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Head of Communications and Marketing
Amy Rafferty has over twenty years of experience in communications and marketing. Amy has been Head of Communications and Marketing at EI since October 2020 where she thrives on collaborative and dynamic energy.
Amy started her career as Head of Research for the Scottish Conservatives, going on to be Director of Politics and Media at the Scottish Countryside Alliance. Amy moved to Weber Shandwick Scotland in 2004 where, as an Associate Director, she specialised in public affairs. In 2010 Amy honed her digital marketing skills as Head of Communications for the satirical website the Daily Mash. Amy rejoined Ruth Davidson's Scottish Conservatives in 2017, becoming Head of PR.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Director of Strategic Partnerships
- Head of Inward Investment at Edinburgh BioQuarter
Following a PhD in genetics at the University of Edinburgh and several post-doc roles in cancer research, Andrea worked in drug discovery within the pharmaceuticals sector (Smith Kline Beecham now GSK) and biotech (Oxford Glycosciences, latterly UCB).
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Leadership Team
After completing a BSc and a PhD in Organic Chemistry at Glasgow University, Dr George Baxter then 15 years at ICI, mostly in sales, marketing and business management and then AstraZeneca, running a number of international business units.
George then joined the North West Development Agency (NWDA) in 2003 as Director of Science and Innovation. Over the next eight years, NWDA led a number of major economic development initiatives including Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, the formation of the N8 Group of Universities and the Innovation Strategy for the North West of England.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Head of Enterprise
John is also Chair of Old College Capital GP and a Director of Edinburgh Technology Fund.
John has a degree in Engineering and Industrial Management, an MBA and Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA). John's doctoral research was on academic entrepreneurship and how universities can create ecosystems that encourage research translation and impact, bringing benefits for academics, students, universities and wider communities.
John's career began in sales, marketing and commercial management in the energy sector (Rolls-Royce and National Nuclear Lab) before moving to the Higher Education sector in 2007, where he was Director of Innovation and Enterprise at UCLan, before joining Edinburgh Innovations in 2018.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Head of Business Development for College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
- University As a Business Development Executive
Susan joined the University as a Business Development Executive in 2013, supporting the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. She moved to Edinburgh Innovations in 2019 and became Business Development Manager before being appointed as Head of Business Development for CMVM in summer 2021.
With an honours degree in Pharmacology and PhD in physiology and cell signalling, Susan's background is in drug development. As a new graduate, Susan started her career as Study Director at Charles River Laboratories (then Inveresk) where she worked with all major pharma, biotech and chemical companies to support drug development, specifically the studies required to prove the safety of new chemical entities in both preclinical and clinical studies.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Consultancy Manager for the College of Science & Engineering
- Head of Business Development for College of Science and Engineering
Ian has over 15 years' experience in developing corporate partnerships and revenue generation, having spent the last 10 years in the Higher Education sector across roles in Australia at the University of New South Wales and the UK with the University of Edinburgh. He holds an Honours degree in Business and Information Technology from TU Dublin and a postgraduate qualification in Law from the Australian National University.
Ian joined Edinburgh Innovations in 2017 as the Consultancy Manager for the College of Science & Engineering. In 2019 he transitioned into the role of Business Development Manager for the Schools of Engineering and Physics & Astronomy. 2022 saw Ian take over the role as Head of Business Development for the College of Science & Engineering.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Certified Accountant
- Member of the Leadership Team
- Head of Finance and Operations
Kenneth is a Chartered Certified Accountant with over twenty years of finance and accounting experience. Kenneth has a multi-faceted finance career with key leadership roles within the National Health Service, pharmaceutical sector, financial services and engineering/manufacturing sector.
In addition to more standard finance and accounting, Kenneth has a wide range of commercial finance and business partnering experience including financial strategy, business planning, data analytics, business intelligence, business transformation, business opportunities, investment appraisal and value proposition.