Suzanne’s career started at Leatherhead Food Research Association (LFRA) after gaining her PhD in food science from the University of Surrey. She worked in a variety of roles at the LFRA including Senior Analyst in market intelligence and Principal Advisor on food legislation.

Later on she worked at the University of Nottingham on government research proposals, including LINK, BBSRC and TCS; and at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods (now DEFRA), where she managed the secretariat for collaborative industry-university research programmes.

This wealth of experience in the implementation of major European and international research projects, and of establishing strong working relationships with a variety of different partners and people, led to Suzanne joining the IMCRC Research Centre at Loughborough University. Here she was responsible for 250 industrial collaborators on over 100 projects, all designed to enhance the processes, products, and competitiveness of the UK’s manufacturing and construction industries.

Suzanne joined YTKO to manage the flagship £1.2 million Bioscience Yorkshire Enterprise Fellowship Programme for Yorkshire Forward. This has entailed setting up a substantial selection, training and assessment process within bioscience business, education, investment and public sector organisations in the region. This included securing mentors, creating training programmes and events for the Fellows and mentoring and supporting the nascent new entrepreneurs as they emerged into the commercial world.

It is to her credit that YTKO also passed the Customer First assessment at its first attempt, the BYEF programme delivered a 250% return to Yorkshire Forward and that they regard it as a flagship. Not only did women form 30% of the take-up, but are leading the way as a majority of the newly forming ventures.