Meet the Horizon Nua team

Isobel Fletcher
Acting CEO

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 Acting 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.

Siobhan McQuaid
Co-Founder and Director

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 in Trinity College Dublin. As such I play an important liaison role between the two organizations ensuring that Trinity's excellence in research is seamlessly translated into innovation and impact through Horizon Nua.

Kieran Farrell
Strategic Growth and Operations

Kieran joined Horizon Nua in January 2023 as Strategic Growth and Operations Manager with specific responsibility for managing the direction of the Connecting Nature Enterprise Platform. An experienced bilingual marketing & operations professional for 20 years across advertising, tourism and related sectors, Kieran brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team. Kieran is passionate about regenerative tourism and speaks fluent Spanish!

Esmee Kooijman
Project Manager

Esmee is currently on a leave of absence travelling around Central and South America. She will be back with us in January 2024. In the meantime, please get in touch with Isobel or Siobhan who are happy to connect with you.
___________________________________________________________________________
My focus is on entrepreneurship, financing, and business models for nature-based solutions, and I support cities and organisations with developing strategies and tools for this.
I joined Horizon Nua in 2020 to support the development and growth of the Connecting Nature Enterprise Platform, and now work as a project officer in the GoGreenRoutes project. This work closely aligns with my current research in Trinity College Dublin's Centre for Social Innovation.
My background is in Earth Sciences and Environmental Management (MSc, University of Amsterdam), and I have more than 5 years of experience in research projects (Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin), funding and innovation consultancy for environmental projects (EGEN) and building communities for climate action (EIT Climate-KIC). With my love for nature and sports, I can often be found outdoors; I like to go hiking, cycling, surfing, scuba diving, and snowboarding.

Dr. Dharm Kapletia
Project Manager

Dr Dharm Kapletia, joined Horizon Nua as Research and Innovation Manager in March 2022, and has over 15 years’ experience as an innovation researcher, manager and consultant across a variety of sectors. He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge (Engineering Dept.), an MSc from the Science & Technology Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex, and a track record of delivering programmes and projects at the nexus of academia, government and industry.
Dharm is a Fellow of the Schumacher Institute for Sustainable Systems in Bristol, UK and has a strong interest in the role of systems and transdisciplinary practices in the context of R&D, business and public-sector transformation, sustainability and climate action.

Karen Wilson
Accounts and Administration

Karen joined Horizon Nua in January 2023 and is responsible for managing the organisations accounts and administrative operations including financial reporting on all of our European funded Research and Innovation actions. Prior to joining us, Karen work in the retail banking sector for 17 years and was also a successful Law Practice Manager. In her spare time, Karen works volunteers with an animal welfare charity.

Horizon Nua Internship Programme

Horizon Nua is a partner in NBS Eduworld. As part of our commitment to improving NBS education in 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 hello@horizonnua.eu.