Juan Ramón Candia (JR)

As Climate Innovation Hub Manager, I drive the scale-up of groundbreaking climate innovations, ensuring they transition from concept to commercial deployment. My work is centred on two high-impact initiatives: EarthScale, a consortium led by Imperial College London that brings together leading UK universities to accelerate innovation at scaling stages, and the Cluster Action Framework in Climate Tech, a regional network propelling Climate Tech advancement.

With a deep-rooted background in sustainability, I previously conducted research at the University of York's School for Business and Society, analysing business models of digital climate start-ups and contributing to strategic projects tackling sustainability challenges in the UK's industries.

Over the past two decades, I have led sustainability efforts across government, industry, and innovation sectors. My roles have ranged from Head of Sustainability to consultant, entrepreneur, mentor, and board member, advising multinational corporations, NGOs, and government agencies on sustainability strategy. To date, I have spearheaded over 200 projects.

Academically, I hold a PhD in Management from the University of York, an MSc in Sustainable Development from Lincoln University (NZ), a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Sciences from the University of Canterbury (NZ), and a Bachelor's in Marine Biology from Universidad de Concepción (Chile).