Sarah Haywood

Sarah Haywood is a seasoned leader with a background in policy and management, currently spearheading Advanced Oxford, a business membership organization for knowledge economy businesses. She also plays a pivotal role at MedCity, championing the life sciences ecosystem in London and the greater southeast of England. Sarah's expertise spans UK and European employment law, rights, and the labor market, with notable contributions in developing flexible working and shared parental leave policies during her tenure in the UK Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

Sarah's passion for people management shines through her extensive experience in coaching, mentorship, and team development. With a solid HR background from her time at Novartis, she actively advocates for flexible working arrangements and excels in managing diverse teams with varied working patterns. Her educational journey includes a BA Hons in Pure and Applied Biology from the University of Oxford, a Master's degree in Human Resources Strategy from the University of Westminster, and a Postgraduate diploma in Management (Health) from The University of Glamorgan.

Throughout her career, Sarah has held key positions such as Managing Director at Advanced Oxford, Executive Director at MedCity, and Head of Life Sciences at London and Partners. Her leadership roles extend to the public sector, where she served as the Deputy Director of Labour Market and Operations at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. Additionally, Sarah has shared her expertise as a Leaders in Innovation Fellowship mentor at the Royal Academy of Engineering and as a Board Member at Venturefest Oxford.