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

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.

Strategic Growth and Operations

Kieran Farrell

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!

Project Manager

Esmee Kooijman

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.
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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 at 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.

Project Manager

Dr. Dharm Kapletia

Dr Dharm Kapletia joined Horizon Nua as Research and Innovation Manager in March 2022 and has over 15 years of 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.

Accounts and Administration

Karen Wilson

Karen joined Horizon Nua in January 2023 and is responsible for managing the organisation’s accounts and administrative operations including financial reporting on all of our European-funded Research and Innovation actions. Before 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 volunteers with an animal welfare charity.

Project Officer

Oisin Klinkenbergh

Oisín joined Horizon Nua in August 2023 as a Project Officer. With strong roots in and a passion for environmentalism, Oisín decided a life dedicated to Mother Earth was for him and a job with Horizon Nua was the way to go about it!
Working mainly on the Invest4Nature and C-FAARER Horizon Europe projects, Oisín has a wealth of knowledge acquired through studying a BSc in Environmental Science & Health (Dublin City University) and an MSc in Sustainable Development (Utrecht University). Oisín brings to this position valuable work experience in environmental consultancy, education and project work.
With his eyes always peeled for mushrooms to forage, Oisín enjoys cooking and fermenting in his spare time as well as listening to and broadcasting radio.

Project Officer

Sadhbh Keane

Sadhbh joined Horizon Nua in July 2023 as a project officer. Her focus is on the development and growth of the Connecting Nature Enterprise platform and Invest4Nature.
Sadhbh graduated from Dublin City University with a BA of Social Science and Cultural Innovation, majoring in sociology. During university, she developed a strong passion for social impact and sustainability. Before joining Horizon Nua, she completed an ESG and Social Impact internship in the financial services industry in Madrid.

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.