Joanna Birch

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT JOANNA BIRCH

I help organisations grow by thinking differently about how they innovate and how they lead change. For more than 30 years I’ve worked with complex institutions, universities, infrastructure firms, developers, public bodies and technology partners, helping them turn ambition into something that actually delivers. Much of my work sits where policy, place and technology meet, particularly where ambition is high but delivery is difficult. My focus is always on what works in practice, not just what sounds good on paper, with much of my advisory activity helping bring in a systems context to ensure recommendations work in practice. At the centre of my work is a simple belief: transformation only succeeds when people are properly involved in shaping it. Without that, even the best strategies tend to stall. I work with boards and executive teams to- Develop clear, grounded innovation strategies- Create new products, services and ways of operating- Frame complex problems so they can be acted on- Shape investment approaches that support long-term growth- Introduce AI in a way that is thoughtful and genuinely useful- Build partnerships and ecosystems that open up opportunity Alongside advisory work, I am an accredited executive coach and facilitator (MBTI and Nancy Kline Thinking Environment). I tend to combine structured strategy with proper engagement, so leadership teams leave with clarity and direction not just activity. Earlier in my career I led a 170-strong division with an £8m operational budget and a £124m project portfolio. During that time, innovation income grew from £6m to £15.5m annually, alongside securing over £30m in capital investment. My work has been recognised through Women Innovator of the Year, a Women in Tech Special Recognition Award, and the Google Squared Leadership Award. I currently serve as: Deputy Chair & NED – Tech WMChair – Createch FrontiersChair – AI Special Interest Group I’m particularly interested in how organisations move beyond pilots and one-off initiatives to build environments where innovation becomes part of everyday performance. I speak nationally on innovation, leadership and responsible AI adoption. If you’re leading change and want clear thinking, proper engagement and a sense of momentum, I’m always open to a conversation.