Ruth McKernan joined Innovate UK as Chief Executive in May 2015.
Ruth has 25 years of research and commercial experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including heading up research units in the UK and the US. She is a member of the Science, Industry and Translation Committee of the Royal Society and a Council Member for the Medical Research Council.
Ruth’s previous roles include:
- Senior Vice President, Pfizer
- Head of the Merck Neuroscience Research Centre
Her awards and achievements include:
- CBE in 2013 for services to Business, Innovation and Skills
- Fulbright Scholarship
- Winner of Glaxo/ABSW Science Writers’ Award
- Published author with more than 120 scientific papers and 15 patents
- BSc in Pharmacology and Biochemistry and PhD in Molecular - - Neuroscience from King’s College, London
- Author of a book for non-scientists, “Billy’s Halo”
Inspiration is something almost impossible to quantify but sits at the heart of every innovative business. Whether it be that someone is inspired to make a difference, solve a problem or achieve something new and exciting. Inspiration is often sparked …
A few days ago, I spoke at the FT’s Brexit and Beyond event, to talk about the opportunities for economic growth in the UK. The UK has an absolutely fantastic reputation for excellent science
There are so many things to highlight in this, my final blog post of 2016, reflecting on a year in the life of Innovate UK. Here are just a few of my ‘best bits’ of the past year.
I arrived in India after an exciting few days at the Innovate 2016 event in Manchester, co-hosted by Innovate UK and the Department for International Trade. Cities of the future were an important theme of the event, showcasing UK innovation. …
The Innovate 2016 event is an important opportunity for Innovate UK to partner with the Department for International Trade, bringing UK innovation into the global spotlight. Now more than ever it is vital that UK businesses look to engage globally …
How will healthcare advance in the future? Last week I attended the New Scientist Live event in London, Innovate UK’s first large-scale involvement at a public engagement event. I was delighted to be invited to speak on the topic of …
For our infocus Women in Innovation campaign, Innovate UK is publishing a series of blogs from our ambassadors. Each has a personal story to tell, which we hope will inspire women in innovation. The question we are giving them is: …
Earlier this month, we had a fantastic two days at Old Billingsgate in London, at our Innovate 2015 event. Much more than an innovation showcase The Innovate events are co-hosted by Innovate UK and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to provide a …
