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About Nesta

Nesta is a research and innovation foundation. We apply our deep expertise in applied methods to design, test and scale solutions to some of the biggest challenges of our time, working across the innovation lifecycle.

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Ian Sillett

Director of Frontier Technologies, Challenge Works

Ian Sillett Ian Sillett

Ian Sillett

Partnerships

Albert Bravo-Biosca Alexandra Brown Alexandra Wu Amalia Papanikolaou‌‌ Anna Giulia Ponchia Apoorva Srikkanth Bashar Hobbi Caroline Pradier Caroline Purslow Catherine Duncan Charlie Mealings Cleo Robbie Dina Ibrahim Dylan Terry Edoardo Trimarchi Elettra Pellanda Esther Moss Fernanda Anaya Fernanda Torres Frances Bain Fulvia Porcheddu George Finnigan Hannah Dummett Helen Spencer Holly Jamieson Hugo Cuello Ikbal Hussain Ilana Cope Irene Knowles James Phipps Janet Southern McCormick Jasmin Major Karmel Edmonds Kathy Nothstine Layla Gemmell Maria Brackin Mark Gordon Max Meadows Nassin Watson Olivier Usher Piotr Gierszewski Pippa Mildred Rachael Glover Rhys Herriott Rob Fuller Ruth Neale Samantha Flower Seoana Sherry-Brennan Sophie Clifton Teo Firpo Tris Dyson Vidal Kumar Wanda Mollica Winsen Ng Yan Yan Leung

Ian is the Director of Frontier Technologies at Challenge Works.

He works on challenge prizes that apply cutting-edge technologies, new sources of data, regulation or policy to solve challenges in any sector. His current portfolio includes the Manchester Prize for AI and the Smart Data Challenge.

Ian has extensive experience of science, technology and innovation within the UK civil service and academia with particular expertise on achieving impact through technology in partnership with the private sector. His previous organisations include the Royal Navy, University of Sussex, Department for Transport and the Home Office.

Now a lapsed scientist, he has an MSc in Physics from UCL and an MSc in Science Communication from Imperial College.

Outside of work, Ian is a trail runner and junior cricket coach and is trying to re-wild his front garden.

Also in Partnerships

Albert Bravo-Biosca

Director, Innovation Growth Lab

Alexandra Brown

Programme Coordinator, Challenge Works

Alexandra Wu

Assistant Programme Manager, Challenge Works

Amalia Papanikolaou‌‌

Data Programme Lead, Challenge Works

Anna Giulia Ponchia

Programme Manager, Innovation Growth Lab

Apoorva Srikkanth

Initiative Manager, Innovation Growth Lab

Bashar Hobbi

Senior Researcher, Challenge Works

Caroline Pradier

Programme Manager, Challenge Works

Caroline Purslow

Senior Programme Manager (Global Health Team), Challenge Works

Catherine Duncan

Senior Programme Manager, Challenge Works

Charlie Mealings

Researcher, Challenge Works

Cleo Robbie

Programme Coordinator, Challenge Works

Dina Ibrahim

Programme coordinator, Challenge Works

Dylan Terry

Programme Manager, Challenge Works

Edoardo Trimarchi

Policy Lead, Innovation Growth Lab

Elettra Pellanda

Programme Manager, Challenge Works

Esther Moss

Product Design Lead, Centre for Collective Intelligence Design

Fernanda Anaya

Programme Manager, Challenge Works

Fernanda Torres

Researcher, Challenge Works

Frances Bain

Mission Manager (Scotland), healthy life mission

Fulvia Porcheddu

Team Assistant and Programme Coordinator, Challenge Works

George Finnigan

Programme Coordinator, Challenge Works

Hannah Dummett

Programme Manager, Challenge Works

Helen Spencer

On Purpose Associate, Challenge Works

Holly Jamieson

Director, Challenge Works

Hugo Cuello

Researcher, Innovation Growth Lab

Ikbal Hussain

Project Management Apprentice, Challenge Works

Ilana Cope

Programme Coordinator, Challenge Works

Irene Knowles

Team Coordinator, People Powered Results Team

James Phipps

Deputy Director, Innovation Growth Lab

Janet Southern McCormick

Senior Programme Manager, Challenge Works

Jasmin Major

Programme Manager, Challenge Works

Karmel Edmonds

Programme Manager, Challenge Works

Kathy Nothstine

Head of Future Cities, Challenge Works

Layla Gemmell

Operations Manager, Innovation Growth Lab

Maria Brackin

Researcher, Innovation Growth Lab

Mark Gordon

Partnerships Manager, Innovation Growth Lab

Max Meadows

Programme Coordinator (Global Health), Challenge Works

Nassin Watson

Programme Manager, Challenge Works

Olivier Usher

Head of Research, Challenge Works

Piotr Gierszewski

Senior Design Lead

Pippa Mildred

Operations Manager, Challenge Works

Rachael Glover

Senior Consultant, People Powered Results

Rhys Herriott

Programme Manager, Challenge Works

Rob Fuller

Evaluation Manager, Innovation Growth Lab

Ruth Neale

Programme Manager (Global Health), Challenge Works

Samantha Flower

Assistant Programme Manager, Challenge Works

Seoana Sherry-Brennan

Digital Communications and Events Specialist, Challenge Works

Sophie Clifton

Head of Operations, Challenge Works

Teo Firpo

Senior Researcher, Innovation Growth Lab

A powerful ecosystem for innovation

We extend our impact through two specialised units that help people and organisations to solve complex problems and achieve their goals.

BIT

BIT helps clients from government, nonprofits and the private sector to improve people’s lives through our empirical problem solving and deep understanding of human behaviour.

Challenge Works

Challenge Works designs and runs challenge prizes to spark innovation in science, technology and society.

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