Meet the Horizon Nua team

Chief Executive Officer

Isobel Fletcher

A practitioner and advocate in supporting regional authorities and municipalities devise sustainable finance and business models for nature-based solutions. Adviser on the development of nature-based entrepreneurial strategies. Member of EU NBS Task Forces on the nature-based economy and communications.
As CEO, I am responsible for the operational and strategic direction of the company leading an engaged and enthusiastic team across several Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects.

Co-Founder and Director

Dr Siobhan McQuaid

My research focus is on nature-based enterprises, finance, and governance models for nature-based solutions.
I’m an innovation specialist with over 25 years of experience across academia, industry and public sector organisations.
As founder and director of Horizon Nua, I contribute to vision, strategy, and impact through building collaborations with research and innovation partners globally.
I also hold the position of Associate Director of Innovation in the Centre for Social Innovation at Trinity College Dublin. As such, I play an important liaison role between the two organisations ensuring that Trinity's excellence in research is seamlessly translated into innovation and impact through Horizon Nua.

EU Project Manager

Martina Brophy

Martina joined Horizon Nua in January 2025 as EU Project Manager, bringing over 10 years experience of research, teaching and project management in the higher education sector. At Horizon Nua, her role includes support for capacity building across Horizon Europe projects, building on her prior experience of such work in the area of Erasmus+.
Her subject expertise is in entrepreneurship, having lectured, researched and published in a range of areas including inclusive entrepreneurship, family business enterprises and corporate entrepreneurship. She holds a MPhil in Business and a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Prior to joining Horizon Nua, she worked as a Senior Research Assistant and Lecturer at Technological University Dublin.

Marketing & Communications

Niranjana Bindu

Niranjana joined Horizon Nua in October 2024 as Marketing & Communications Lead, bringing over four years of experience in the start-up sector. Her primary focus at Horizon Nua is the development and growth of the Connecting Nature Enterprise Platform.
Niranjana holds an MSc in International Marketing and Entrepreneurship from the University of Galway, complemented by a diverse academic background that includes a postgraduate degree in Philosophy and an undergraduate degree in English Literature. Before relocating to Ireland, she gained experience working with a media tech start-up and managing her own small business, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit and adaptability.

EU Project Officer

Hadiza Lemo

Hadiza joined Horizon Nua in September 2024 as a Project Officer, bringing a deep commitment to climate justice and adaptation along with a strong focus on diversity and inclusion. She is currently contributing to the UNP+ and GoNP projects, leveraging her extensive experience in managing development-funded initiatives.
Holding a Master’s degree in Human Rights from the University College Dublin, and a Bachelor’s in Economics, Hadiza combines a rigorous understanding of project implementation with a strategic business perspective, enriching Horizon Nua’s efforts. Outside of work, she dedicates her time to volunteering for homeless outreach and has a passion for cooking.

In-house Consultant - Nature-Positive Metrics

Lucy Gaffney

Lucy is a sustainability professional, entrepreneur, and adjunct lecturer with over 15 years of experience across the biosciences, sustainability, and conservation sectors. She works with organisations to better understand their relationship with nature and translate that understanding into practical, value-creating action.
She founded Wild Plan to bring clarity and structure to how businesses engage with nature, supporting work across strategy, governance, biodiversity finance, and capacity building, with a strong focus on moving beyond compliance toward credible, real-world impact.
She has recently joined Horizon Nua, where she provides expertise on the development of criteria and indicators for a Nature Positive Economy, the establishment of nature-positive metrics and benchmarks, and the integration of nature-positive indicators into wider benchmarks and standards.
Lucy has led national platforms, advised NGOs, and collaborated with partners across sectors. She brings creativity, energy, and pragmatism to her work, thrives in entrepreneurial environments, and believes that meaningful change is best achieved through collaboration, openness, and a willingness to be bold.

Horizon Nua Associates

Horizon Nua is delighted to run an Associates Programme where we maintain collaborations with former colleagues. This relationship cements the interest we take as an organisation in the continuing professional development of former team members and has opened up opportunities for new partnerships and alliances within the nature-positive space.

Our Associates Dr Dharm Kapletia and Esmee Kooijman continue to work in the nature-positive space. Dharm, who is now with Trinity College Dublin is Principal Investigator of the Mission Oceans funded C-Faarer project of which Horizon Nua is a proud partner while Esmee has returned to the Netherlands where she is a Policy Officer for Nature and the Economy working with the Dutch Government.

We are grateful for these collaborations and also for the generous donation of time and expertise that Dharm and Esmee continue to provide to Horizon Nua and our team members.

Esmee Kooijman

Dr Dharm Kapletia

Horizon Nua Internship Programme

Horizon Nua is a partner in NBS Eduworld. As part of our commitment to improving NBS education at secondary and third level, we offer a limited number of internship opportunities. If you are passionate about nature and interested in nature-based enterprises, drop us an email at hello@horizonnua.eu.