Rob Ashelford

Head of Nesta Wales & Head of Y Lab

Rob is Head of Nesta Wales and Head of Y Lab, the Public Service Innovation Lab for Wales.

Y Lab is a partnership between Nesta and Cardiff University.

Rob manages a portfolio of programmes that support public service organisations to undertake innovation programmes and projects, backed by research and evidence to change and improve the way that services are delivered.

Before joining Y Lab, Rob was responsible for the Digital Research and Development Fund for the Arts in Wales, supporting collaborative arts projects that extend audience reach and engagement, or develop new business models for arts organisations, through the use of digital technology.

Prior to joining Nesta, Rob worked as an Associate Producer at Wales Millennium Centre, delivering their visual arts programme and contributing to the wider programming and producing activities of the organisation. Rob has worked in the creative industries since 1999 in a variety of roles.

Rob completed his BA(hons) in Business Administration at the University of Plymouth in 2002 and an MBA at University of Wales Institute Cardiff in 2010.