About Nesta

Nesta is an innovation foundation. For us, innovation means turning bold ideas into reality and changing lives for the better. We use our expertise, skills and funding in areas where there are big challenges facing society.

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Eleanor Dowding

Campaigns Manager

Eleanor is a campaigns manager in the communications team.

Prior to Nesta Eleanor has experience of managing strategic relationships, communications and programmes in national government, with frontline public services and in a community development context.

In government, Eleanor worked on the design of obesity policy and external engagement in the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (within DHSC). Eleanor also led stakeholder engagement for the independent National Food Strategy - a government commissioned independent review of the food system from farm to fork, published in July 2021.

In other roles she was responsible for stakeholder relations and programme management at Police Now. She also ran a pioneering health partnership in Newcastle upon Tyne called ‘Food Newcastle’.

Outside of work, Eleanor likes to be in nature as much as possible. She is often in Wales and Scotland with community groups who are planting trees and advocating for native woodland restoration.