
Senior Executive - Transforming Scientific Discoveries into Real-World Impact | Building Open Cross-Sector Collaborations to Drive Innovation for Global Challenges
Senior Scientific Executive | Brain & Life Sciences | Open Science | AI & Human ImpactI have extensive experience leading national and international programs at the intersection of brain and life sciences, technology, and philanthropy. I enjoy building cross-sector teams to design new pathways from data to discovery, and through to sustainable impact - in neuroscience, open data, AI, and youth mental health.My research - performed across the U.K., U.S., and Canada - has delivered a strong track record of publishing in top journals, and being translated into public benefit. I specialize in translating research into real-world solutions— by building new consortia and data platforms, developing strategic initiatives and funding programs, bringing expertise into community-focused programs, and training the diverse leaders we very much need for tomorrow. I’ve been fortunate to work at almost every level in academia and nonprofit research institutions, advise biotech and tech companies, philanthropists and foundations, and work directly within or collaboratively across organizations like the Allen Institute, Gates Foundation, Simons, Kavli and Dana Foundations, Wellcome Trust, the Science Philanthropy Alliance, and the U.S. BRAIN Initiative.I’m passionate about connecting people, ideas, and resources to vision - and operationalizing ways to make research more usable and accessible to create measurable benefits for society, whilst fostering a work culture of creativity, equity, collaboration and respect. I have built many bridges across disciplines, directed funder, stakeholder and government relations, driven organizational development and outreach communications strategy, created programs - and led recruitment, mentoring and talent development. This has gifted me a rich and global health, brain and life sciences network of domain experts, innovators, designers and futurists, AND diverse communities rich in lived experience to help sculpt the human-focused design of new roadmaps from research evidence to precision, personal, and planetary global impact.
convergentresearch.org
ubc.ca
childmind.org
gatesfoundation.org
hopkinsmedicine.org
uw.edu
alleninstitute.org
Seattle, Washington, United States
Strategic Science Programs Advisor
Renaissance Philanthropy
• www.linkedin.com/company/renaissancephilanthropy
Aug 2025 - Present
London Area, United Kingdom
Senior Strategic Advisor for Focused Research Organizations
Convergent Research
• www.linkedin.com/company/convergent-research
Jan 2024 - Present
Seattle, Washington, United States
Founder and CEO
Cascadia Data Discovery Network LLC
Jan 2019 - Present
Seattle, WA
Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience
The University of British Columbia
• www.linkedin.com/company/universityofbc
Dec 2021 - Present
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Affiliate Professor, Dept of Neurosurgery
University of Washington
• www.linkedin.com/company/university-of-washington
Jan 2018 - Present
Seattle, Wa
Digital Health Data Advisor, Founding Board
Level42.ai
Sep 2019 - Jan 2023
Mountain View, California
Chief - Data Analytics, Training and Education, CANADIAN OPEN NEUROSCIENCE PLATFORM
Canadian Open Neuroscience Platform
Jun 2017 - Jan 2023
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Advisor to the BRAIN Initiative
BRAIN Initiative
Jun 2014 - Jun 2017
Washington DC
nih.gov
cohenveteransbioscience.org