Deputy Director, Kindling Ventures and ARC Accelerator, United Kingdom

Frida is Deputy Director at Kindling Ventures and ARC Accelerator. She currently works on the delivery of the SHAPE Catalyst, a new UK-wide programme helping SHAPE researchers build sustainable ventures and bring their ideas to market. Prior to this, she completed an MSc in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation at the University of Oxford and worked in business development for two EdTech start-ups with a social impact focus. Frida also serves as Group Leader of the ASTP SHAPE Special Interest Group.

Programme Manager and Operations Lead, Kindling Ventures, Czechia

Ivana is the Programme Manager and Operations Lead at Kindling Ventures, where she oversees and coordinates all aspects of its programmes, including the Shared TTO project. Previously, she spent nine years as Transfer Specialist and Deputy Director of the Knowledge Transfer Office at Charles University in Prague, facilitating collaboration between academia, industry, the public sector, and NGOs. She supported researchers in translating their work into practical applications and provided training to academics and students, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and promoting knowledge valorisation, particularly in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Earlier in her career, Ivana managed large EU-funded research infrastructure projects in biomedicine and biotechnology and worked as a research analyst and property consultant at Jones Lang LaSalle.

Director, Kindling Ventures and ARC Accelerator, United Kingdom

Chris is the Director at Kindling Ventures, a leading organisation that helps researchers build innovative social ventures that deliver impact at scale. Kindling operates multi-stage accelerator programmes, including ARC Accelerator, the world’s first SHAPE commercialisation accelerator.

Chris also works with OU Consulting to help universities create startups from social science, humanities and the arts as well as social ventures. Prior to this, Chris was the Social Science and Humanities Lead at Oxford University Innovation and worked at FutureLearn, an Edtech start-up founded by the Open University.

Director, Kindling Ventures and ARC Accelerator, United Kingdom

Julian is a Director at Kindling Ventures, a leading organisation that helps researchers build innovative social ventures that deliver impact at scale. Kindling operates multi-stage accelerator programmes, including ARC Accelerator, the world’s first SHAPE commercialisation accelerator. Before this, Julian was Research Commercialisation Manager at the University of Bristol. He has extensive entrepreneurial expertise and has founded, led, and successfully exited several innovative social enterprises and for-profit ventures.

Head, Innovation & Business Development, Knowledge Transfer Office, Leiden University, The Netherlands

Jessica Meijer has broad experience in STEM and SHAPE activities in academic, start-up, and corporate sectors. For more than a decade she has managed diverse projects in public-private partnerships and has extensive experience in collaborations with university, industry, governmental and non-governmental organizations. In her present role she translates research into impact and connects researchers with society. She also acts as advisor, evaluator and speaker for national and international knowledge transfer activities.
Jessica holds a Master’s in Community Health and Epidemiology and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. She has performed lab research, field research with wolves and seals, and sociology research.

Managing Partner, Görgen & Köller GmbH, Germany

Christoph is the managing partner at the science consultancy company G&K in Cologne/Germany. He supports research institutions in turning results into impact, focussing on social sciences, humanities, and the arts (SSHA) research in order to solve industrial and societal issues. Christoph belongs to several pools of experts and advisory boards on the European and national levels, including the Austrian Knowledge Transfer Center program and the COST CIG program. He started and leads the working group on SSHA impact at ASTP.

Managing Director, Mark Mann OÜ, Estonia, United Kingdom

Mark Mann is the Managing Director of two companies providing strategic innovation services across Europe – Mark Mann Limited and Mark Mann OÜ. He is also a Director of Divine Ox, an impact measurement company focused on SMEs. Mark is an experienced venture and ecosystem builder who has specialized in social innovation and brand-building strategies. He provides many training courses through PraxisAuril, ASTP, AESIS and other organizations.