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MrsAnca Gourlay, CMgr FCMI

Head of Operations and Engagement - Digital Foundry

Schools of Convergence Science - Central Faculty

  • Head of Operations and Engagement - Digital Foundry
    Schools of Convergence Science - Central Faculty

BIO

As Head of Operations and Engagement for the Digital Foundry within the School of Convergence Science, Anca leads the operational delivery of a cross-disciplinary hub that brings together expertise in artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital innovation, supporting strategic research, industry engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration across the Imperial and White City innovation ecosystems. In addition, as Head of Operations for the Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials, she provides strategic operations leadership for a $150 million global research partnership involving Rio Tinto and leading universities across four continents.

 

In previous years at Imperial, Anca managed the Hitachi - Imperial Centre for Decarbonisation and Natural Climate Solutions, coordinating interdisciplinary research programmes focused on carbon management, biodiversity, energy systems, and climate resilience. Previously, as Department Operations Manager for the Centre for Environmental Policy, she led the operational management of a department with approximately £12 million annual turnover, 90 staff and 250 students, driving organisational growth, restructuring professional services, enhancing research support, and implementing new systems and processes that increased research funding activity and operational efficiency.


Anca’s career spans roles managing large-scale research projects at University College London and King’s College London, as well as leading packaging innovation and sustainability projects in the FMCG sector at Tata and Procter & Gamble.

Anca's academic credentials include an MSc in International Employment Relations & Human Resource Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and an MSc in Composite Materials and a BSc in Chemical Engineering. She is also a Chartered Environmentalist and holds several professional certifications, including Prince2 Practitioner and CMI Level 7 in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice.

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Executive Development Programme
    Imperial College Business School, London, United Kingdom
  • PRINCE2 Practitioner in Project Management
    British Computer Society, London, United Kingdom

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING

  • Level 7 Award in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice
    Chartered Management Institute, London, United Kingdom
    Other

FACULTY

  • Central Faculty

POSITION NAME

  • Head of Operations and Engagement - Digital Foundr

FIELDS OF RESEARCH