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Crisis – or opportunity?

Jonathan Kestenbaum

Jonathan Kestenbaum

Press release issued: 26 January 2009

Even in the toughest economic times, organisations and countries that grasp opportunities to refocus and adopt fresh approaches can win through. That's according to Jonathan Kestenbaum, a leading expert on innovation, who is to give a free public lecture, entitled 'Transforming the UK's capacity for innovation', at 6pm on Thursday 12 February in the Wills Memorial Building.

Even in the toughest economic times, organisations and countries that grasp opportunities to refocus and adopt fresh approaches can win through.

 

That’s according to Jonathan Kestenbaum, a leading expert on innovation, who is to give a free public lecture, entitled ‘Transforming the UK’s capacity for innovation’, at 6pm on Thursday 12 February in the Wills Memorial Building.

Mr Kestenbaum is Chief Executive of NESTA, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, which is the largest single endowment in the UK exclusively dedicated to fostering innovation.

Born in Japan to American parents and brought up in the UK, he graduated from the LSE, Cambridge and the Cass Business School. He started his career in education before moving to the business world and becoming Chief of Staff to Sir Ronald Cohen, the Chairman of Apax Partners.

Later he served as Chief Executive of the Office of the Chief Rabbi, Professor Jonathan Sacks, and in 1996 was appointed Chief Executive of the UJIA, one of the largest voluntary organisations in the UK.

He is a trustee of a number of foundations, a tutor at the Cass Business School, on the planning group of the World Economic Forum and a Companion of The Chartered Management Institute.

He is a graduate of the Cabinet Office Top Management programme and the Strategic Agility programme at Harvard Business School, and has been an adviser to BAE Systems.

The lecture is part of a high-profile series of public talks taking place throughout 2009 as part of the University’s centenary celebrations. Admission is free, but places must be booked in advance here.

Further information

Please contact Dara O'Hare for further information.
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