Our team

IGL is run by a core team based at Nesta. We carry out our work under the guidance of the IGL Steering Board, composed of representatives from all IGL partners, and benefit from the advice provided by the IGL Scientific Committee, made up of world-class researchers from around the world.

James Phipps

James is the Head of Economic Analysis and Policy Development for the Innovation Growth Lab (IGL) based in Nesta’s Research, Analysis and Policy team.

James leads on partner engagement in his role at IGL, helping IGL partners to access evidence from trials, identify and develop their own ideas for policy experiments, and build their capacity to take these forward. 

Before joining Nesta, James was a Senior Economist and Head of Enterprise Policy Development and Evaluation at the UK Business Department (now UK Deparment for Business, Energy & Industrial Straregy). He directed the analysis of various SME support and finance programmes and oversaw a large research programme. James established many RCTs during this time, ranging from small behavioural trials through to major policy experiments such as the Growth Vouchers Programme.

James holds an MSc in Economics from Warwick University and a BSocSc in Mathematical Economics from the University of Birmingham. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his young family and is a keen DIYer.
 

 

Lou-Davina Stouffs

Lou-Davina is Research and Programme Manager for the Innovation Growth Lab in Nesta's Research, Analysis and Policy unit. She manages the IGL Grants Programme and oversees IGL’s portfolio of grant-funded RCTs.

In addition, Lou’s work focuses around the growth and development of IGL, and ensuring IGL projects run according to plan. She also oversees and collaborates on IGL events and communications. She led the initial research behind the trials database that IGL developed.

Prior to joining the IGL team, Lou worked at Nesta as an intern in the Innovation & Economic Growth team where her work focused on high-growth startups and international innovation. Lou-Davina holds an MSc in Public Management and Governance from the London School of Economics and a BA (Hons) in Social Science from University College Roosevelt.  

Nyangala Zolho

Nyangala is an Assistant Programme Manager for the Innovation Growth Lab’s (IGL) Policy team. She helps IGL partners and the wider policy community to share and learn from policy ideas.

Since joining Nesta in 2018, Nyangala has worked to deliver impact through strategic communications and programme design, having supported the delivery of Nesta’s 2030 strategy. Prior to Nesta, Nyangala worked for a human rights and tech startup, which aimed to facilitate justice for international war crimes. She has worked for both profit and non-profit organisations, and is an avid advocate of interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral work that is mission-driven.

Nyangala has a degree in International Relations and holds a MA in Global Media and Transnational Communications from Goldsmith’s, University of London. Her personal interests tend to fall into three main categories: social justice, design and technology. So if she's not in the office, you'll likely find her somewhere historically significant – and always engaged in meaningful debate.

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