Bridging ideas, building futures: Knowledge exchange matters

This blog was first published on the University of Reading website on 24th October 2025. HERE.

As Chancellor of the University of Reading, I’ve always believed that curiosity is the spark that drives progress.

It’s what led me from a career in television to founding Ella’s Kitchen, and ultimately to this role, where I have the privilege of connecting with our University community and championing the power of knowledge exchange.

My journey with the University began not in a boardroom or a lecture theatre, but with a Google search: “baby food regulation”. That search, when I was beginning to think about the business I went on to create, led me to Dr David Jukes and Professor Orla Kennedy, whose expertise helped shape my early ideas into a viable business.

From pilot testing to scaling recipes, the University was a vital partner in transforming Ella’s Kitchen into the UK’s leading baby food brand. That collaboration wasn’t just technical, it was transformational.

Knowledge exchange is more than a buzzword. It’s about bringing together diverse minds – academics, entrepreneurs, students and community members – to share insights and solve real-world problems.

One solution I chose, to bring together those diverse minds, was the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) created with the University to help scale the business. Over three KTPs, we learnt from each other and built something lasting.

The individuals who joined Ella’s Kitchen through the KTPs stayed on, contributing to our growth and success. That’s the power of shared knowledge: it creates value that endures.

Two worlds meet

Universities and businesses often approach problems differently. Entrepreneurs tend to act on instinct and iterate quickly, while academia seeks evidence and rigour.

But when these worlds meet, magic happens. And the worlds do invariably meet through a common curiosity for innovation, discovering knowledge and in its practical application.

Then, when business and academia come together, we learn of the power of bold action, and how to balance or taper it with thoughtful analysis that builds evidence as we go.

That’s a lesson I’ve carried with me, and one I hope to share more widely in my role as Chancellor.

Chancellors are honorary figureheads of their universities, acting as ambassadors and being deployed for ceremonial occasions such as Graduation. However, they can be useful for much more than just that, and I am determined to use my experience, passions and connections network for the benefit of Reading.

I accepted the role because I saw that overlap of curiosity, innovation, knowledge discovery and the challenge of its practical application in what happens at Reading reflected in how I saw my own impact on the world. I felt a common purpose.

I try to be a Chancellor who is accessible, relatable and rooted in our community. I live just a few miles from campus, and I see every day how our University enriches lives, through research and teaching as well as its connections with the Thames Valley and beyond.

Whether it’s climate science, land management, or entrepreneurship, our impact is global, national, and local.

That’s why I launched the Just Imagine If… scheme and partnered with this specific university– to support entrepreneurs to tackle global challenges with sustainable business ideas. It’s a celebration of imagination, collaboration, and the belief that we can build a better world together.

Just Imagine If… will return in 2026, seeking to help the ideas of its 10 finalists become reality through the knowledge exchange of our staff, students and alumni - a perfect modern partnership between business and academia in our centenary year. Watch out for details in the coming months.

Learning and leading

Ultimately, whichever sector we work in, we’re all simply people trying to make a difference. Whether we work in a university, a business, or a charity, we share common goals: to support ourselves, to help others, and to leave the world better than we found it.

The key isn’t just creating new knowledge, it’s sharing it. When we open our doors, our minds, and our resources, we unlock potential far beyond our own walls.

If I can help staff or students to do this – whether it’s helping make connections locally or nationally, starting conversations between the University and influencers, or supporting University events – please do get in touch via the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor’s Office.

So let’s keep asking questions. Let’s keep reaching out. And let’s keep building bridges; between disciplines, sectors, and communities. Let’s continue to create world class, globally leading research and solutions, and crucially let’s share our knowledge and expertise far and wide.

Because when we exchange knowledge, we don’t just learn, we lead.