Breaking down barriers: how do we shape future skills?

Supercharging Innovation

In this second series, our expert guests will explore how the UK must break down barriers to solve national and global challenges and how this can be realised through the power of science, innovation and technology.

Episode three considers several hot topics including the role of science, innovation and technology in bridging the skills shortage, where responsibility lies for harnessing and shaping future skills and how to overcome inherent biases impacting our diverse and multi-skilled nation. Learn more by listening to this episode of the Supercharging Innovation podcast.

Hear from our panel of experts, including Kathie Bowden, Skills Manager at Satellite Applications Catapult, Dr Martin Main, Chief Scientific Officer at Medicines Discovery Catapult, Priya Guha, Non Executive Director at Digital Catapult and our special guest Debbie Johnson, Head of Innovation Talent & Skills at Innovate UK.

Learn more about our panellists here:

• Kathie Bowden, Skills Manager at Satellite Applications Catapult:
  Kathie Bowden is responsible for supporting the development of clusters of space activity across the country. She has a background in Earth observation (in industry) and has been working in externally facing space skills related roles for the past 15 years in both academia and government. Read more about Kathie here.
• Dr Martin Main, Chief Scientific Officer at Medicines Discovery Catapult:
  An accomplished scientist with over 30 publications and a broad range of pharmaceutical industry experience ranging from target validation and reagent generation, through assay development and mechanism-of-action studies, Martin brings a breadth of experience to his role as Chief Scientific Officer at Medicines Discovery Catapult. Martin joined Medicines Discovery Catapult in 2018 as Head of Molecular Technologies, taking on the role of Chief Scientist in 2022. In his current role as Chief Scientific Officer, Martin is accountable for the development and delivery of the science strategy, with oversight of laboratory and informatics activities, to ensure Medicines Discovery Catapult continues to deliver upon our vision of reshaping drug discovery for patient benefit.
• Priya Guha, Non Executive Director at Digital Catapult:
  Priya is a Venture Partner at Merian Ventures, investing in women-led innovation, an Advisor to Kheiron Medical Technologies and Gallos Technologies, a member of the Investment Governance Board at Future Planet Capital, NED at Reach PLC, UK Research & Innovation, the Digital Catapult & GB Badminton and Adjunct Faculty at the Ashridge Hult Business School. She was previously GM for RocketSpace, launching their UK operations. Priya used to be a career diplomat, most recently as British Consul General to San Francisco and previously in India and Spain. She sits on the Royal Academy of Engineering International Committee, Althea Foundation Board, Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates Advisory Boards. She is a Trustee at TechSheCan. Priya was awarded an MBE in 2021 for services to international trade and women in innovation.
• Debbie Johnson, Head of Innovation Talent & Skills at Innovate UK:
  Debbie Johnson is Head of Innovation Talent & Skills at Innovate UK, the UK’s Innovation Agency. Debbie is focused on two goals:
  supporting innovative businesses in accessing and developing talent to realise the UK’s innovation ambition and ensuring that the education and skills system is supported in responding to the changes created by our innovation to maximise its potential for our economy and society. Prior to joining Innovate UK in 2020, Debbie was involved in the design and implementation of a number of government supported, business-led skills programmes in the construction sector.

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