Dr Lisa J Hill has over 25 years’ experience in research and innovation development and research management.

She set up Newlands Coaching & Consulting in November 2023. In its first year of trading, Newlands Coaching and Consulting Ltd clients were awarded £8M UKRI funding.

Lisa has a wealth of research and innovation development experience. She has read more than 1000 grant applications in her career and has listened to panels debating hundreds more.

Lisa started her career at the Economic & Social Research Council in 1999, with responsibility for the ESRC’s portfolio of environmental social science investments and as secretary to the Research Grants Board. She moved to the Arts & Humanities Research Council in 2004, taking on the role of Head of Evaluation at AHRC in 2006. After leaving the AHRC, Lisa held research development and project management positions in science and engineering at the Universities of Bristol and Leeds, supporting numerous successful funding applications.

More recently, Lisa spent three years as Head of Research Development at the University of Leeds, supporting the development of high value and strategically important research proposals and leading the University’s relationship with UKRI.

In 2022, Lisa took up the role of Associate Director of Research & Skills at the Natural Environment Research Council, where she led the critical evaluation of processes, driving efficiency and effectiveness in Research & Skills. Lisa also led Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Research & Skills and two of four priorities under NERC’s Living Action Plan (2022-25). She was NERC’s lead on developing domestic alternatives to Horizon Europe.

Lisa is a Workstream Lead for the EPSRC EDI Hub+ (WS5: Flexible Fund).

Lisa is also a qualified ILM Level 5 coach.