NESTA Connect

Roland Harwood

Roland has recently joined NESTA to head up a new programme called NESTA Connect which explores and showcases successful collaborative innovation that disrupts organisational, sector or geographic boundaries. He is passionate about connecting people and ideas into new business opportunities, and has experience across both the technology and creative industries and in both the private and public sectors.

Graduating with a PhD in Physics from UMIST, he started his career as an industrial research scientist for EA Technology focusing upon product development services for range of Global Utility companies including EDF Energy and United Utilities. Then, at IET he was responsible for developing new technology media publishing services including joint ventures with BT & IBM. Most recently, at LDA, he has worked with 100s of early stage technology companies through developing and launching a series of 3 business incubators and a Proof of Concept Seed Fund with 24 Universities.

Also, for the past 10 years he has worked freelance as a music producer for SonyBMG, writing numerous soundtracks for TV and film, including for the film American Psycho and the Cosby Show.

Rachel Brazil

Rachel Brazil is Crucible project manager and leads on the interdisciplinary strand of NESTAs Connect programme which seeks to promote collaborative innovation.

Rachel has a BA (Hons.) in Chemistry from Oxford University and an MSc and PhD in archaeological conservation from University College London. Her Phd involved multidisciplinary research, looking for new chemical conservation treatments for archaeological marine iron.

Rachel joined NESTA in 2007 from the Royal Society of Chemistry where she was manager for science policy communications and prior to this manager for materials chemistry activities with a particular focus on nanotechnology and biomaterials. She has also held a number of editorial roles including with the Taylor and Francis group where she was responsible for commissioning new psychology textbooks.

Her work to date has given her considerable experience of the UK research community and science policy landscape. She has particular interest in science and society issues and encouraging scientists to engage in policy debates.

Rachel hopes that Connect projects such as Crucible will encourage the research community to see their roles in a wider context; be it by collaborating with researchers from other disciplines in new areas of research or by engaging in policy, outreach or other entrepreneurial activities.

David Simoes-Brown

David joined NESTA in May 2007, attracted by its mission of promoting UK innovation. He was an innovation consultant running Applied Emotions and was particularly interested in how an accurate understanding of human emotion can be a creative tool. Prior to this he helped corporates to innovate as Director of Seymourpowell Foresight, the futures and research arm of the renowned product design studio.

David has spent 20-odd years in advertising as a strategic planner, most recently as Planning Director of Burkitt DDB responsible for the strategy of John Lewis, Peroni, Nestle and Epson. Before that he has worked at BDDH, Grey and Publicis on accounts as diverse as Christian Aid, Nintendo, The Cooperative Bank and P&G.

Jon Kingsbury

Jon Kingsbury runs the Creative Economy Innovation Programme at NESTA, with a remit to encourage growth in creative businesses by developing successful models for innovation. He previously worked at the BBC as Head of External Supply, Future Media & Technology where his role was to improve the organisation’s engagement with external creative suppliers.

Before becoming interested in driving creative business growth, Jon held a number of senior editorial commissioning roles at the BBC and Channel 4, always in the space where linear TV broadcasting meets interactive content.

Jon is a board member of Screen Yorkshire.

Rohan Gunatillake

Rohan Gunatillake leads the Web Connect strand within NESTA Connect which explores the role the social web plays in disruptive innovation.

Prior to joining NESTA, Rohan worked for IBM and most recently Accenture's consulting practice where he worked with several public and third sector clients to tackle their major business challenges. This period also included a year-long secondment with Mission Models Money, a ground-breaking change campaign in the not-for-profit arts and cultural sector.

Rohan has a particular interest in mission-led organisations and has acted as an informal strategy advisor for a number of social enterprises and ethical businesses. In 2006/07 he ran an online community exploring urban wellbeing and has a deep belief in the power of the web to connect rather than isolate. Other areas he has a keen interest in are the development of gift economies using online tools and the impact new technology will have on the way we understand personal identity.

Jonathan Crowley

Jonathan is a Programme Manager for NESTA's Connect programme, which supports innovation through collaboration.

In this role, Jonathan works across the programme's three areas of focus: corporate open innovation; interdisciplinary collaboration; and the future of the web.

Prior to joining NESTA, Jonathan worked at Jim Henson's Creature Shop and at Innocent Drinks, where he was involved in a diverse range of projects across different areas of the business.

During this time, Jonathan acted as Treasurer for The Innocent Foundation, a charitable trust that supports NGOs on projects concerned with sustainable agriculture for the world's poorest people.