Anna King has joined UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) as a non-executive member, bringing with her a wealth of experience in commercial strategy, governance, and innovation leadership. Her appointment is set to bring significant expertise to the organisation responsible for directing over £8 billion annually into research and innovation.
Sir Andrew Mackenzie, Chair of UKRI, hailed Ms King's extensive background in corporate finance, private equity, and public sector transformation as a major asset. As Commercial Director at the Health Innovation Network, she has played a key role in driving health technology innovation and fostering collaboration across the NHS, industry, investors, and academic institutions.
In her previous roles, including leadership positions in major innovation and economic growth programmes, Ms King has demonstrated a unique ability to bridge the gap between commercial and public sectors. Her experience as Executive Lead for DigitalHealth.London, where she accelerated health technology innovation and strengthened collaboration across industries, is particularly relevant to UKRI's mission.
As a Chartered Accountant and experienced Non-Executive Director, Ms King chairs the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust and holds advisory board positions with the NHS Innovation Accelerator and the NHS Alliance's Q Initiative. Her deep understanding of public sector governance will be invaluable as UKRI works to advance knowledge, improve lives, and drive economic growth.
UKRI is heavily invested in fostering a robust research and innovation ecosystem across the UK, tackling global challenges and stimulating economic prosperity. The integration of Ms King's commercial acumen and public sector insight is expected to strengthen the board's strategic oversight and enhance UKRI's ability to translate research into tangible benefits for society.
Her appointment comes at a time when UKRI is pursuing its mission with renewed vigour, investing in initiatives like Accelerating FemTech in partnership with Innovate UK. With Ms King on board, the organisation is poised to leverage her expertise and drive meaningful change in the research and innovation landscape.