Claire Pembleton

Claire works as a Business Development Executive at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, supporting researchers in collaborations outside the University. With a rich background in teaching across different countries and even running a vineyard in New Zealand, she enjoys the variety and the inspiring people in her current role. Claire loves mixing mentoring with her knack for facilitating meaningful discussions.

How would you explain your job to an alien?

I help researchers navigate how to work with partners external to the University.

What did you do before Edinburgh Innovations (EI)?

I worked in Higher Education as a manager and teacher in language departments, teaching English and Foundation Studies around the world – New Zealand, Ecuador and South Korea.

What’s the best thing about working here?

Every day is different and I get to work with wonderful and inspiring people.

What's your favourite project that you’ve worked on? What did it accomplish?

I have loved seeing my colleague Glaire Anderson’s dreams of working on the blockbuster game Assassin’s Creed Mirage come true, from the glimmer of an idea, all the way through a collaboration journey, that ended up being really successful and a truer depiction of the people, places and artefacts of 9th-century Baghdad

What does innovation mean to you?  

It means problem solving, tenacity, ingenuity and going against the grain.

What is the best piece of advice someone has given you?  

Don’t give up!

If you had one more hour in the day, how would you spend it? 

Reading a good book

Do you ever imagine yourself in another occupation? If so, which one and why?  

I’m a frustrated teacher at heart, so I love opportunities to run training sessions, coach, mentor and facilitate sessions.

What might people be surprised to learn about you? 

I used to have a vineyard in New Zealand and produced three vintages of wine!  It was much more “Clarkson’s Farm” than anything idyllic, you might be thinking.

What would you really like to work on at EI/UoE?

I love being a facilitator and developing those skills with my colleagues.  It’s wonderful to allow people to take a step back from the day-to-day and really connect on what matters.