Paula is an experienced leader of large-scale policy evaluation and impact assessment projects, both as a consultant and within government, specialising in R&D, technology and innovation policy and its role in economic growth and well-being. She has extensive experience in designing and implementing high quality evaluation projects and studies that meet clients’ needs. 

Recent assignments include evaluations of public investments in collaborative R&D and innovation programmes, research organisations, technical infrastructures and business support such as: long-term evaluations of large-scale investments in technical infrastructures in the UK and Europe; development of methodologies to assess the socio-economic benefits of public investments in space programmes for the European Space Agency; evaluation of Science Foundation Ireland’s collaborative R&D programme; and implementing a research assessment exercise in Latvia. 

Prior to joining Technopolis Paula held a number of roles in R&D and innovation. She led the in-house evaluation and impact assessment for national and European metrology institutes, contributed to the innovation chapter of UK Industrial Strategy, provided mentoring to technology start-ups and conducted R&D in a public laboratory and a Silicon Valley start-up. She has Master’s degrees in Physics and Technology and Innovation Management from Imperial College and the University of Sussex.