Wednesday 12th December 2018, 11:00am
Converge Challenge, Scotland’s leading company creation programme for staff, students and recent graduates of Scottish Universities and Research Institutes which is hosted by Heriot Watt University, has confirmed the appointment of its new Director, Dr Claudia Cavalluzzo.
Claudia, who joined Converge Challenge in October 2017 as Deputy Director, is a former Saltire fellow with a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. During her career, she worked with a biotech spin-out from the University of Edinburgh and more recently was Head of Saltire Fellowship within Entrepreneurial Scotland.
In her new role, Claudia will spearhead the continuing development of the University engagement strategy, whilst further strengthening collaborative partnerships with the many corporate organisations embedded within Scotland’s entrepreneurial eco-system.
"Our world-class Universities and Research Institutes provide the entrepreneurial conditions for new, trailblazing business ideas to flourish and grow. The result is a pipeline of innovators who, as well as creating jobs and prosperity, are actively changing our society for the better. It is an absolute honour, therefore, to be appointed Director at Converge Challenge and I look forward to building on our many achievements and working with our partners to take the programme to the next level."
Dr Claudia Cavalluzzo, Director, Converge ChallengeSandy Finlayson, Chairman of Converge Challenge and co-founder of law firm, MBM Commercial, believes Claudia is the perfect candidate to lead Converge Challenge through the next stage of its development.
"Claudia emerged from an exceptionally strong field of candidates. She demonstrated to the interview panel that her dynamism, vision and creative energy were fully aligned with how we saw the next phase of Converge Challenge rolling out.
"We need a leader who can work across every level of academia and brings a fresh perspective to harnessing our corporate engagement strategy which is crucially important to our growth. Under Claudia’s leadership, this next phase of growth as the country’s most progressive and pioneering company creation programme is in very good hands indeed.
"Claudia replaces Converge Challenge founder director, Dr Olga Kozlova who left at the end of September and joins the Senior Management Team at the University of Strathclyde with our very best wishes."
Sandy Finlayson, Chairman of Converge Challenge and co-founder of law firm, MBM CommercialConverge Challenge was founded by Dr Olga Kozlova in 2011. It is now the leading, pan Scotland, company creation programme for staff, students and recent graduates of Scottish Universities and Research Institutes with the aim of creating a new generation of entrepreneurs in Scotland. Converge brings together the most ambitious and creative thinkers from academia, research & business and works with ALL industry sectors, products and service-based ideas at any stage of the development.
By providing high quality training, hands-on mentoring and practical support, including cash prizes, Converge Challenge helps to refine and accelerate the pipeline of spin-outs and start-ups by developing fledgling businesses into investor ready companies.
For further information:
Kevin Dorrian
Acumen PR
T: 0131 661 7027
M: 07786386300
Roslin Innovation Centre
The University of Edinburgh
Easter Bush Campus
Midlothian EH25 9RG
