IDRIC’s team works closely with stakeholders and supports the wider IDRIC community in delivering the Centre’s goals.
As well as Champion and Director of IDRIC, Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer (FRSE, FIChemE, FRSC, FRSA, FEI) is Deputy Principal (Global Sustainability) and Director of the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS) at Heriot-Watt University. RCCS is a world leading multidisciplinary centre delivering innovation for the wider deployment of low-carbon energy systems required for meeting net zero targets. She has held appointments at the University of Kentucky (1997-1998), Pennsylvania State University (1998-2004) and University of Nottingham (2005-2012).
Her internationally recognised track record covers energy systems, CCUS, integration of hydrogen technologies and low carbon fuels. She has over 550 publications, has been editor of 4 books and 15% of her publications are in top 10% most cited worldwide. Mercedes holds leading positions in professional societies and editorial boards and has received numerous international prizes and awards.
As IDRIC’s Centre Manager, Clare supports the Centre Director in leading and managing the development of IDRIC into a world-leading research and innovation centre. Tasked with ensuring the successful delivery and future sustainability of the Centre she oversees the workplan and management of the Central Team as well as liaising with members of the management and governance bodies, partners and stakeholders.
As an experienced programme and project manager on large-scale collaborative, multi-stakeholder publicly funded projects, Clare has worked extensively on interdisciplinary research projects involving stakeholder and policy engagement with diverse sets of stakeholders from around the world. She has an MSci Geoscience degree from Royal Holloway, University of London and a PhD in long-term carbon cycle modelling from University of Edinburgh.
Danny works in the Business & Impact Team and leads on IDRIC’s stakeholder engagement with the industrial clusters and industry.
A varied background, Danny has previously run an innovation centre and also worked in economic development, the water industry, broadcast media, cycling industry and tourism. He has a degree in History from the University of Glasgow
John is part of IDRIC‘s Policy Team, working to inform active UK and Devolved Government policy development through communication of IDRIC’s leading research expertise, the experience of industry partners and independent policy analysis. An advocate for evidence-based climate policy, John has prior experience of policy engagement and knowledge exchange from previous roles in the water sector and at the Scottish Parliament, the latter of which focused on the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. John has a PhD in geomicrobiology from the University of Dundee, with expertise in microbial biotechnology and critical metal sustainability.
Jennifer works as IDRIC’s Administrative Assistant, helping the team with daily administration requirements and support. After a long career as a sales and acquisitions executive for Film & Television in Toronto, Canada, Jennifer relocated to Scotland with her family 5 years ago. She now uses her administration skills from her previous life to support IDRIC with such things as helping to organize events and liaising with researchers. Fluent in French, she has travelled and worked for Sony Music Australia, Corus Entertainment as well as Alliance Films.
Helen works on IDRIC‘s marketing and communications strategy and on themes such as identity and messaging, IDRIC’s online presence, social media and PR. A significant part of Helen’s role is liaising with IDRIC’s 142 partners (including all partner research organisations) to promote the great research that is taking place within IDRIC-funded projects. As an experienced marketing and communications professional, Helen has a worked in a wide range of sectors - including higher education, business, technology, the third sector and finance. She has a Degree in International Studies from Birmingham University and a CIM Diploma in Marketing.
Professor Heather J. McGregor is the Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University Dubai. Previously the Executive Dean of the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University, as well as a Professor of Management Practice, Professor McGregor is a qualified accountant and had an earlier career in investment banking, and then spent 17 years as an entrepreneur prior to her move into higher education. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. In 2010 Professor McGregor was a co-founder of the 30% Club, which seeks to increase female representation on public company boards, and she also founded the Taylor Bennett Foundation which offers opportunities for minority ethnic graduates. She was awarded a CBE in 2015 for her services to business, especially diversity in the workplace.
Charlotte works to provide development opportunities for IDRIC‘s researchers through the delivery of secondments and the ECRA. Charlotte’s role also has an externally-facing aspect, working with IDRIC’s stakeholders to better understand and communicate the interventions and policy frameworks needed to ensure the UK has the skills and workforce capacity to decarbonise the industrial clusters. Charlotte’s background is in geoscience. She completed her PhD in Applied Geology in 2017 (University of Glasgow) and subsequently worked on technical geological research with an industry focus. It was during this time that Charlotte became passionate about ensuring the retention of skilled scientists through the energy transition.
Isobel’s role is to ensure the research findings from the IDRIC programme are effectively shared across the industrial clusters and wider stakeholders, allowing our research to have maximum impact in the decarbonation of industry.
Isobel worked in a similar role at the University of Edinburgh, accelerating the impact of research for international development through knowledge exchange. Previous to that, she worked for the Royal Society of Chemistry fostering partnerships between industry and academia and supporting technology commercialisation. Isobel holds a PhD in chemistry from the University of Edinburgh.
As part of IDRIC‘s Policy Team, Anna supports the development of effective policy and regulatory frameworks for decarbonisation and net zero through facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange between academia, industry and government. With a strong background in public policy research and analysis, Anna strives to understand the opportunities and trade-offs involved in climate policy and regulation to support informed decision-making. Anna holds a degree in comparative politics from the University of Vienna and a PhD in social policy from the University of Edinburgh.
As Executive Assistant to the Director of IDRIC, Gill attends to the day-to-day functions that are part of the Director’s role, so that the Director can focus on leadership and strategy not only for IDRIC, but also for the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS) and as Deputy Principal for Global Sustainability at Heriot-Wat University. Working previously in the NHS as a Service Manager, Project Co-ordinator and a number of other roles, in the Scottish Funding Council and in the retail sector as a Buyer and Marketing Manager, Gill has experienced various workplace environments, traditions and cultures.
Barbara works as IDRIC’s Administrative Assistant, providing the team with assistance in day-to-day operations of the office.
Having worked in tourism in Croatia, business development and sales in the Czech Republic and hospitality in New Zealand, Barbara has a wide range of experience that means she is able to support the IDRIC team in a number of key areas.
She holds a master’s degree in political science from the University of Zagreb, Croatia.
Carolina’s role focuses on the communication and promotion of IDRIC’s research findings, developing IDRIC’s Knowledge Hub into the ‘go-to’ online resource for cutting-edge knowledge on accelerating industrial decarbonisation. Through engaging content creation, she tells the compelling stories of IDRIC’s impact on the decarbonisation of industry. With a wealth of experience in the UK Higher Education sector and having previously served in a Knowledge Exchange capacity at the University of Edinburgh, she brings a wealth of expertise to her position. Carolina holds a PhD in English literature from the University of Edinburgh.
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