Katy Rutherford

Head of Programmes and Impact

Katy is Head of Programmes and Impact in Nesta's Health Lab.

She currently manages Accelerating Ideas, a five year partnership between Nesta and Big Lottery Fund to support eight highly promising ageing innovation to scale their reach and impact to many more people across the UK.

Katy joined Nesta in October 2011 to work on Creative Councils, a practical programme working with pioneering local authorities to develop, implement and spread transformational new approaches to meeting some of the biggest medium and long-term challenges facing communities and local services. She subsequently worked on the Centre for Social Action Innovation Fund, finding ways to use the skills and enthusiasm of citizens to solve the problems generated by long term conditions and an ageing population.

Before joining Nesta, Katy worked in Parliament and spent eight years working in local government, most recently as Head of Policy for Westminster City Council. She led on finance policy for the council and managed teams responsible for policy and commissioning on economic development and community safety.

Katy has a degree in History from Cambridge University.