Faculty Champion:Natalie Walsh

Name Natalie Walsh School University of Galway Department Entrepreneurial Development Directorate Country Ireland

Bio

I am a seasoned and person-centered leader in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship within Higher Education. I have a track record of accomplishments which include leading an award winning high-performing unit since 2015. This unit has played a pivotal role in nurturing entrepreneurship, innovation, and empathetic skills among a vast community of over 8,000 students and staff.

Our human centred design approach to teaching, innovation and entrepreneurship creates the environment for creative thinking, idea generation and exploration and radical experimentation. Our approach helps our community to address many of the challenges we face across business and society. We are proudly involved as a pillar of the Designing Futures project at the University of Galway. The project has been designed to empower, educate and support students to lead better lives and succeed in the complex world we live in.

Our graduates, whether in Engineering, Science, Arts or Healthcare are equipped to approach situations, questions or challenges through a process of creative thinking, empathy and design that they learn while students with us. They are future inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs who bring their creativity, imagination and skills to many different careers when they leave Ideaslab. Our graduates have gone out into the world and created impact, both on our economy and our society. For me, it is both an honour and a privilege to be part of their journey with IdeasLab, University of Galway.