Health Innovation Wessex Welcomes Professor Cathy Barnes PhD to the Board

We are pleased to welcome Professor Cathy Barnes PhD to our Board. With an extensive background in academia and industry, Cathy brings a wealth of experience to the board, strengthening our mission to drive innovation and economic growth within the health and care sector whilst also fostering collaboration across the wider NHS system.

As Pro Vice Chancellor for Research, Academic Strategy, and Planning at Southampton Solent University, Cathy is a well-respected and successful leader known for developing and delivering smart strategies, building beneficial partnerships, and guiding large teams through complex change programmes. Cathy’s successful leadership track record is underpinned by management roles in industry and an academic career spanning five higher educational institutions.

In her role at Southampton Solent University, Cathy works closely with the executive team to align research and innovation with the University’s mission. She drives growth, boosts performance, and ensures resources, and academic structures align to deliver its strategic objectives.

Get to know Professor Cathy Barnes PhD, listen to our short interview clips.

• What skills and connections do you bring to your new role with Health Innovation Wessex? Listen here.
• What is one piece of advice you'd give to researchers and academic innovators entering the healthcare space? Listen here.
• What is the biggest myth about healthcare innovation that you would love to debunk? Listen here.
• What is one surprising fact about you that people might not expect? Listen here.
• What was your first ever job? And what did it teach you? Listen here.

As a member of our Board, Cathy brings valuable insight and leadership and will help shape our direction whilst ensuring we meet our licencing objectives. We remain committed to working closely with our members and partners through mutual Board representation, fostering joint decision-making and collaboration.

We warmly welcome Cathy to the Board of Health Innovation Wessex; her expertise is hugely valuable as we continue to drive innovation and economic growth across Wessex and beyond.