Join us for this Productivity Week event focusing on the role that innovation and infrastructure plays in supporting inclusive growth across East Anglia. The event will also see the launch of the latest East Anglia Insights Paper.
Innovation sits at the heart of solving the productivity challenge. From the life-sciences and tech clusters around Cambridge to the high-performance engineering and manufacturing sector around Norwich, and the importance of renewable energy to the North Sea coast, East Anglia is home to a wide range of innovative companies and sectors.
However, investment in infrastructure in East Anglia lags behind other regions, with deficits identified in housing, transport, and digital infrastructure, as well as the infrastructure required to both protect the region from climate change and move towards achieving Net Zero.
How can we make sure that the benefits of innovation are spread fairly across the region? And how can we ensure that investment in infrastructure is able to support the inclusive growth of the region?
At this National Productivity Week event, Owen Garling and Burcu Sevde Selvi from the Bennett Institute for Public Policy will present their latest East Anglia Insights Paper, and explore these issues with a panel of experts living and working across the region.
Panelists
- Dame Kate Barker, Economist
- Kathryn Chapman, Executive Director, Innovate Cambridge
- Oliver Paul, Interim Chairman, Suffolk Business Board
- Dan Thorp, Chief Executive, Cambridge Ahead
Held at The Glasshouse, Innovate Cambridge’s community space for the city’s innovation ecosystem, the event will bring together representatives from business, academia and policy from across East Anglia.
Book your place via Eventbrite
About out expert speakers
Dame Kate Barker
Dame Kate Barker is a leading British economist. She served on the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee from 2001-2010. She conducted independent policy reviews for the government on UK Housing Supply in 2004 and Land Use Planning in 2006. Kate was Chief Economic Adviser at the CBI and holds various leadership roles, including Commissioner of the National Infrastructure Commission, Chairman of Trustees for the British Coal Staff Superannuation Fund, Chairman of the Jersey Fiscal Policy Panel, and a non-executive director of Taylor Wimpey plc and Man Group plc.
Kathryn Chapman
Kathryn Chapman is Executive Director of Innovate Cambridge.
Her career has spanned diverse research and leadership roles across the public and private sectors including the University of Manchester, Harvard Medical School, GlaxoSmithKline, UKRI, University of Cambridge and Babraham Research Campus. Throughout these roles, Kathryn’s focus has been on spearheading initiatives that connect world-class research to real-world application and drive meaningful change at a national and international level.
Oliver Paul
Oliver Paul’s love for Suffolk and his desire to make the county a better place for all, is manifested in his promotion of the economy with a focus on Ipswich, SMEs and agri-food. He holds a Masters in Environmental Geochemistry and had an early career as a business consultant at CapGemini. Since 2006, Oliver has been at his farming roots where he helped establish the Suffolk Food Hall. This venture is an exemplar for local food, independent businesses, and collaborations.
Dan Thorp
Dan Thorp is Chief Executive of Cambridge Ahead, a voice for the Cambridge economy dedicated to good growth that improves quality of life. Cambridge Ahead produces data driven insight, works collaboratively with policymakers, and champions the contribution the Cambridge city region makes nationally and locally.