Roundtable with Isobel Stephen, Director General, Domestic and International Markets and Exports, Department for Business and Trade
Join us for this event exploring how universities can help drive the Industrial Strategy and economic growth
The industrial strategy places universities at the heart of driving growth, innovation and regional development. The world-class research base is a UK strategic asset for creating investable, scalable companies, industries of the future and high value jobs. This roundtable will explore how universities can act as delivery partners for the industrial strategy, deepen their impact in local economic ecosystems, supporting clusters, supply chains and SME growth across the UK, and address barriers to the development and scaling of high-growth companies emerging from research.
Discussion points:
- How universities can support the Industrial Strategy’s sector plans and growth missions as delivery partners
- The role of universities as anchor institutions in regional economic ecosystems, including their contribution to clusters, supply chains and SME growth across all parts of the UK
- Barriers to the development, retention and scaling of high-growth companies emerging from university research ecosystems
- What collaborative action between government, universities, investors and industry could accelerate the commercialisation of research to drive economic growth.
Isobel joined Joanna Crellin in a jobshare as Director General, Domestic and International Markets and Exports in February 2025.
Isobel has worked for government for over 25 years in economic and social policy delivery roles. Over this time she has worked in a number of different Departments, including the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP); the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC); the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and Number 10.
Before joining DBT, Isobel was Executive Director for Strategy, Performance and Engagement at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to lead on the development of UKRI’s first ever strategy, working closely with Higher Educations Institutions and businesses across the UK.
Previous roles include:
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Executive Director, Strategy Performance and Engagement, UKRI, 2019 to 2024
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Housing Director, MHCLG, 2015 to 2019
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Director, Visitor and Migrant Health Recovery Programme, DHSC, 2013 to 2015
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Business Strategy Director, DWP, 2009 to 2013
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Event places are non-transferable, but colleagues are welcome to email us at [email protected].