To innovate for social change, it’s vital to stay on top of emerging trends, technologies and interventions. This is why strategic foresight lies at the heart of Nesta’s work.

Nesta has ambitious goals across our three missions. We use strategic foresight, data science and other techniques to help us to remain open-minded about the best way to achieve those goals, searching out alternative approaches and continuing to challenge our own assumptions

We also take a long-term view, looking beyond immediate pressures to explore the social, economic and technological drivers that will shape our lives in the decades to come.

What we do

Nesta's Discovery function uses intelligence about the future and new technologies to change practice in the here-and-now. We test new approaches and ideas before applying them in our programmes, then share what we’ve learned so others can benefit.

Our approach

We are interdisciplinary, uniting futures methods such as simulation and scenario building with data science and qualitative research.

We are participatory. We believe that local communities, practitioners and those with lived experience are vital sources of insight.

We are led by social impact. While some innovations we explore are at a very early stage, the idea or technology must have real potential to generate public benefit – not just profit.

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Our team

Email us at [email protected] or find out more about the people behind the Discovery team

Alexandra Burns

Alexandra Burns

Director of UK 2040 Options and Interim Director of Discovery

Alexandra Burns

Director of UK 2040 Options and Interim Director of Discovery

Alex is Director of UK 2040 Options and interim Director of Discovery, leading both teams delivering the UK 2040 Options project and Nesta’s Discovery Hub in the strategy department.

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Celia Hannon

Celia Hannon

Director of Discovery and Strategy (on maternity leave)

Celia Hannon

Director of Discovery and Strategy (on maternity leave)

Celia is a Director in Nesta's strategy department, shaping the organisation’s future agenda and leading the Discovery Hub.

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Laurie Smith

Laurie Smith

Head of Foresight Research, Discovery Hub

Laurie Smith

Head of Foresight Research, Discovery Hub

Laurie leads on strategic foresight for Nesta.

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Karlis Kanders

Karlis Kanders

Senior Data Foresight Lead, Discovery Hub

Karlis Kanders

Senior Data Foresight Lead, Discovery Hub

Karlis is a Senior Data Foresight Lead working in Nesta’s Discovery team.

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Louis Stupple-Harris

Louis Stupple-Harris

Foresight Engagement Lead, Discovery Hub

Louis Stupple-Harris

Foresight Engagement Lead, Discovery Hub

Louis is the Foresight Engagement Lead within Nesta’s Discovery Hub, which aims to create a link between Nesta’s current portfolio and our pipeline of future work.

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Natalie Lai

Natalie Lai

Senior Analyst, Discovery Hub

Natalie Lai

Senior Analyst, Discovery Hub

Natalie serves as a senior analyst for the Discovery Hub, where she focuses on analysing emerging technologies and innovations that could have an impact on Nesta’s mission goals.

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Petra Perjesi

Petra Perjesi

Discovery Manager, Discovery Hub

Petra Perjesi

Discovery Manager, Discovery Hub

Petra is the discovery manager in the Discovery Hub, Nesta’s in-house strategic foresight function.

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Rachel Parker

Rachel Parker

Assistant Programme Manager, Discovery Hub and Strategy Unit

Rachel Parker

Assistant Programme Manager, Discovery Hub and Strategy Unit

Rachel is an assistant programme manager, providing support for projects across Nesta’s Discovery Hub and Strategy Unit.

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Sarah Davies

Sarah Davies

Senior Analyst (Policy Futures), Discovery Hub

Sarah Davies

Senior Analyst (Policy Futures), Discovery Hub

Sarah is a senior analyst for policy futures in Nesta's Discovery Hub, which aims to create a link between Nesta’s current portfolio and our pipeline of future work.

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Siobhan Chan

Siobhan Chan

Content Editor, Discovery Hub

Siobhan Chan

Content Editor, Discovery Hub

Siobhan is a content editor in Nesta’s Discovery Hub.

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William Woodward

William Woodward

Discovery Research and Analysis Lead, Discovery Hub

William Woodward

Discovery Research and Analysis Lead, Discovery Hub

Will works in the Discovery Hub as Discovery Research and Analysis Lead.

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