Chelsea Boothroyd

As Deputy Director for Innovation and Engagement at the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures, I lead the development and delivery of the Centre’s innovation strategy, driving partnerships that translate climate research into real-world impact. Working across disciplines, sectors, and geographies, I collaborate with businesses, policymakers, and communities to co-design solutions that turn climate research into tangible action.

Prior to joining the Priestley Centre, I was part of the founding team for Nexus, the University of Leeds’ Innovation Hub, where I built a thriving community of hundreds of partners and managed strategic partnerships to support research translation and commercialisation. I also worked in Business Engagement and Enterprise at the University of Leeds, leading a portfolio of innovation programmes for entrepreneurs and challenge-led initiatives. Before moving into higher education, I worked in strategy and innovation at J.P. Morgan, bringing a commercial and cross-sector perspective to collaboration and growth.

Passionate about scaling climate solutions, I lead the regional hub for the Climate Scaling Collaborative, a UK-wide initiative to accelerate climate tech innovation, and serve on the Lifted Project Leeds Regional Board, supporting high-growth female founders.