Capacity and innovation
Theme 2 builds capacity in finance and biodiversity through secondments, innovation labs, and events to showcase nature-positive finance.
Theme Leader: Dr Joanne Chamberlain
Joanne is Senior Partnerships Manager in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Queen Mary University of London. She leads strategic collaborations with industry, government, and the third sector—building pipelines that translate Queen Mary’s research strengths into innovation, skills, and real world impact. Joanne’s work within IFB uses secondments, innovation labs, and targeted events to strengthen capabilities across finance, biodiversity and intermediary sectors. Her portfolio spans knowledge exchange, research development and programme design, including support for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and doctoral training collaborations, and advice to partners on structuring projects, IP, and routes to adoption. Prior to Queen Mary she held research and partnership roles linked to international biodiversity initiatives and contributed to market assessments for environmental data products. She also provides training for researchers on proposal development and impact, and engages widely with external stakeholders to ensure collaborations deliver measurable outcomes for people, planet and prosperity. At Queen Mary, Joanne is a focal point for organisations seeking to co create cross disciplinary research and innovation in areas such as environmental intelligence, data and AI, engineering, health, and sustainability.