Ross Burton

Ross Burton is a seasoned professional who joined the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) in January 2017 to spearhead stakeholder engagement and other initiatives for the Smart Specialisation Hub.

Over time, Ross has transitioned into leading KTN's broader place-based engagement strategy and activities, focusing on supporting England's Smart Specialisation strategy by collaborating with various organizations in the innovation ecosystem such as Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and universities.

His expertise lies in driving economic growth and maximizing the ROI on public investment by targeting support in areas of competitive advantage and aligning investments with regional assets and capabilities.

Ross Burton holds a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Civil Engineering from The University of Birmingham and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration with a focus on Project Management from the University of Wales.

Prior to his current role, Ross has held several significant positions including being the Area Lead for Oxfordshire at the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Governance Manager at Innovate UK, and Head of Place (Interim) at Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN).

His professional journey also includes roles like Regional Manager, Programme Coordination Manager, and Programme Manager at Innovate UK, demonstrating a wide array of experiences in project management, governance, and strategic leadership.

Before venturing into the innovation and knowledge transfer sector, Ross Burton honed his skills in transportation planning and engineering, with positions at Peterborough City Council and HNTB. He started his career as a Graduate Engineer at WSP Group.

Ross Burton's dedication to driving innovation, supporting local actors in planning and investing in innovation, and his extensive background in both engineering and project management make him a valuable asset in the realm of economic development and smart specialization.

In summary, Ross Burton is a versatile professional with a strong educational background, diverse work experience in engineering, project management, governance, and innovation strategy, making him a key figure in facilitating regional growth and innovation initiatives across England.