Our people
Meet the expert team helping take your idea to market
We are innovators ourselves: scientists, academics and industry experts from a wide range of specialisms, which reflect the diversity of UCL’s academic disciplines.
Whatever your specialism at UCL, we have the right person to explore it with you. We build exceptional relationships, grounded in trust and understanding, and use our commercial acumen and skill to get the deal done - and to get it done in the best way.
Our independent Board
As a wholly-owned subsidiary of UCL, we’re able to act completely independently. We have a separate Board, comprising experts who have built successful businesses themselves and understand the worlds of venture capital and academia.
A highly experienced team with a specialist approach
Recruited from diverse backgrounds, our Business Managers bring commercial acumen, technical knowledge and creative problem-solving to really understand your technology, idea or invention and find its best route to market.
We also provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary in-house support from legal, marketing and IP protection to business strategy and project management, ensuring every idea gets the right focus at the right time
Our people
Hussein Kanji
Board of Directors
Founder and partner at Hoxton Ventures, Hussein brings tech investing, Microsoft and Silicon Valley startup experience to the Board. He holds an MBA from London Business School.
Ioannis Takkides
Analyst
Ioannis joined us as an Analyst in January 2026. He previously worked in data management for a disease forecasting company in London. He holds an MSc in Cancer and Molecular Biology from Queen Mary
University of London, where his dissertation examined the relationship between prostate cancer and diabetes.
Outside of work, Ioannis enjoys singing, hiking in nature and practising yoga.
Jessica Bolton-Murray
Head of Project Management
Jess joined the Project Management team in 2018. She previously worked as a project manager in neonatal care for the NHS, working on quality improvement for all units in London, and with parents of
premature children. Prior to this Jess was a scientific researcher in carbon monoxide poisoning at Cranfield Defence and Security, working on a population impact study.
She has a BSc (Hons) in biological anthropology from the University of Kent, an MSc in forensic anthropology from Cranfield University, and is a PRINCE2 and AgilePM qualified project manager.
Jessica Yuille
Board of Directors
Jessica is currently Executive Director of Strategic Finance at UCL, working in a job share with Stephen Glover. Together, they lead key financial functions including Financial Planning & Analysis,
Finance Business Partnering, Management Accounting, and Investment and Treasury Management. Prior to this, they headed UCL’s Financial Planning & Analysis Directorate.
Before joining UCL in 2022, she and Stephen were Senior Civil Servants at the Department for Work and Pensions, where they held joint leadership roles in Strategic Finance, Governance and Finance Business Partnering. Jessica has held senior roles across several Government Departments, with experience spanning Private Office, and Policy.
Jill Freestone
Director of People Services Manager
Jill is a senior HR leader with 20+ years of global experience. She combines strategic clarity with a hands-on approach, to deliver people strategies to strengthen cultures and support transformation.
Joy-Anne Best
Accountant
Joy-Anne has overall responsibility for project accounting. Prior to joining UCL Ventures in 2020, she worked in the banking industry for approximately eight years. She is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Kathryn Walsh
Board of Directors
Dr. Walsh leads UCL Innovation & Enterprise, with experience in innovation policy, enterprise funding and industrial research. She holds a PhD in Physics from King’s College London.
Katy Bruce
Chief Financial Officer
Katy has 18 years’ experience in accountancy public practice, and is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (qualifying in audit and tax). She has a successful track record in
financial leadership, holding the role of Head of Finance at Oxford University Innovation (OUI) from 2017 to 2022, having previously been Partner at an Oxford accountancy practice.
Prior to entering the world of technology transfer, Katy specialised in corporate finance lead advisory services advising early-stage and owner-managed businesses on mergers and acquisitions, and debt and equity fundraising.
Kellie Fernandez
IP Officer
Kellie supports the management of the intellectual property portfolio at UCL Ventures, working directly with the Intellectual Property Manager as well as the Business Managers. She is primarily
responsible for administration related to the intellectual property portfolio, such as maintaining accurate and detailed records as well ensuring required formality documentation is completed.
Prior to joining UCL Ventures in 2022, Kellie completed a Bachelor of Laws degree at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia. Since moving to the UK she has previously been working as an insurance claims coordinator for a large group of transit and removal companies.