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
Joy-Anne Best
Accountant
Joy-Anne, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, has overall responsibility for project accounting. Prior to joining us, she worked in the banking industry for approx. eight years.
Alicia Woodward
Legal Affairs Officer
Aliciais responsible for drafting, reviewing and negotiating confidentiality agreements, assignment agreements, revenue sharing agreements and inter-institutional agreements.
Jessica Bolton-Murray
Head of Project Management
Jess was previously a Project Manager in neonatal care for the NHS and a scientific researcher at Cranfield Defence and Security. She is a PRINCE2 and AgilePM qualified project manager.
Lucy Tuffin (Away from office)
Digital Marketing & Communications Executive
Lucy has a degree in Business Management, as well as experience in marketing and PR-focused roles. She is responsible for our digital marketing efforts, overseeing the website and social channels.
Rachel Clark
IP Manager
Rachel is responsible for managing our IP portfolio, and provides advice and support on IP matters. She has worked in various IP-related and business development roles at other universities.
Emma Alam
Head of Marketing
Emma oversees our marketing strategy across brand management, digital transformation, events, and engagement. She is a Chartered Marketer (CIM) with a degree in marketing.
Renata Tarnowska
Senior Accountant
Renata has been with us for 20 years. She is a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians and a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Elizabeth Parker
Financial Controller
Before joinng us, Elizabeth worked at KPMG, working on audit, to risk and investment management. She is a qualified accountant and holds the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment Diploma.
Eileen McQuillan
Executive Assistant
Eileen has extensive experience supporting senior leadership, with a reputation for reliability, discretion, and meticulous attention to detail, supporting our CEO.