Lou is Professor of Innovation & Special Advisor (Innovation & Regional Ecosystem) to The Office of the President & Vice Chancellor, University of Manchester; and Chair, Greater Manchester Business Board.
Lou began her career working for WPP before founding Manchester-based digital design studio, magneticNorth (mN). In 2021, mN merged with Fluxx, creating the UK’s leading design and
innovation consultancy, Magnetic, where Lou was Chief Creative Officer until March of this year when the company was acquired by Newton Europe.
Lou spent 2 years through to Autumn 2023 establishing the JV team and Strategic Masterplan for ID Manchester, Europe’s most ambitious Innovation District project.
In January 2024 Lou joined the University of Manchester as a Professor of Innovation and Special Advisor to the President and Vice-Chancellor. Her work on the university’s regional
innovation strategy culminated in the launch of its new innovation unit – Unit M (unit-m.co.uk) – in October this year where she now part of the team leading the mobilisation of this new capability.
She also acts as an advisor to a number of other place based innovation projects and tech start-up / scale-up companies across the UK.
Alongside the day jobs, she is Chair of Greater Manchester’s Business Board (LEP) working in collaboration with Greater Manchester’ Mayor and Leaders to help drive the region’s