Julie McLaren is a Freelance Innovation Policy Practitioner and a PhD Researcher based at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP).
Place-based development and community-led democratic innovation are central themes in Julie’s research and innovation work to date. Recent research has focused on purpose-driven, collaborative approaches to place-based innovation. This includes work on missions, challenge programmes and design-led social innovation.
Her PhD research is on alternative economies and innovation publics, with a focus on community and citizen-led innovation in Exeter, UK. She is also part of the Everyday Economies Research Cluster at UCL which explores alternative conceptualisations of the economy and space/place.
Julie’s previous professional experience includes executive roles in the UK Research Councils, higher education and The Young Foundation. As a policy lead and funder at the Research Councils she led several high-profile programmes of work focused on place-based social change - including urban transformations, future of housing, cultural value, and the creative industries clusters. At the Young Foundation she was Interim Director of Sustainability and Just Transition, and Interim Impact Lead for the JUST Centre. She holds a Masters’ in Human Geography and an MPA in Innovation, Public Policy and Public Value.