Dr. Natalie Walsh is the Director of Entrepreneurial Development at the University of Galway. She has worked in higher education for over sixteen years with senior roles in Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, spanning areas including ecosystem development, research and innovation clusters, and role identity theory of academic entrepreneurs.
Natalie’s experience and expertise spans areas including leadership, strategic planning, project and grant management, finance, and human-centered design. Natalie holds an MSc in Strategy, Innovation and People Management from the University of Galway and has completed her Ph.D. in Trinity College Dublin using role identity theory to explore the paradox of academic researchers commercializing their research.
Natalie, together with her team, is leading two significant projects focused on transformation change with the University. Designing Futures is a HEA funded project focused on transforming the student experience. The second project is a European Institute of Technology award, which focuses on international innovation capacity building with a strong focus on structural and system changes to support innovation and entrepreneurship across the projects respective to entrepreneurial ecosystems. Idea to Impact (i2i) will also create a suite of programs and training for students, staff, and alumni across West Ireland, Greece, Spain, Bulgaria, and Slovakia.
Additional projects within Natalie’s portfolio include EIT Health-funded projects such as Women Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, SCI FI, Innovation Days, and ENERGHY.
