Nicola is the Head of Built Environment Innovation team in the Science and Innovation for Climate and Energy Directorate (SICE) at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, with nearly a decade of experience leading innovation and technical research projects to support Government net zero policies. Nicola’s passion for innovation and research stems from her academic background in civil engineering, where her PhD focused on pile foundation heat exchangers. Previous programmes which Nicola has led includes Heat Pump Ready, the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund, Building for 2050 and the Energy Catalyst programme, in addition to her role in developing acceleration support services for the entrepreneurs supported by such funds. As an advocate for diversity in the sector, Nicola is the founding member of the Women in Heat Pump Network.