Kirsty is currently Director of RAICo (Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration) that is an end-user led collaboration between the UKAEA, NDA, Sellafield and the University of Manchester. The aim is to provide robotics and AI solutions to complex nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering challenges.

Prior to RAICo, Kirsty was Chief Executive Officer at Innovate UK KTN whose mission is to connect ideas, people and communities to drive positive change through innovation. Prior to being CEO, Kirsty was Executive Director Capability also at IUK KTN.

Kirsty previously held the position of VP Strategy and Innovation at the National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) where she was responsible for identifying, translating and commercialising early-stage technology opportunities. Kirsty also led the development of NNL’s strategy from clean energy to nuclear medicine. On a volunteer basis, Kirsty was also Strategy Director and Executive Committee member of Women in Nuclear.

Prior to NNL, Kirsty was VP Life Sciences at Ploughshare Innovations, converting defence and security innovations, from across the Ministry of Defence, into civilian applications. Before Ploughshare, Kirsty was Director of Life Sciences at Helsinki Innovation Services responsible for technology transfer at the University of Helsinki. Previously, Kirsty worked within the field of pre-clinical drug discovery including a spin-out company from the University of Oxford. Kirsty holds a MChem and a PhD both from the University of Oxford.