Kara is an experienced water industry and innovation specialist. She has extensive experience within the UK water sector including water and wastewater operations, strategy and innovation. In her role at Innovate UK, her portfolio covers water systems, net zero innovation within urban environments and the growth and application of digital twinning. She has led business cohorts on global innovation programmes and is currently delivering £60m of innovation investment with UK local authorities, taking a place-based approach to overcome non technological barriers to accelerate the transition to net zero.