Head of ODA Research Management Team, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Policy Fellow Alumna, Centre for Science and Policy

Liesbeth Renders is head of the ODA research management team, providing strategic oversight on the delivery status of the Newton Fund and Global Challenge Research Fund. The Newton Fund uses science and innovation partnerships to promote economic development and social welfare of partner countries, and is part of the UK's official development assistance (ODA).

Prior to joining the team, Liesbeth worked as both a researcher and consultant for a variety of organization as diverse as The Nature Conservancy and Reuters. Managing and coordinating high profile international interdisciplinary projects, she has extensive experience facilitating between stakeholders, and is passionate about development of innovative solution through partnerships.

She was an operational member of MapAction, a non-governmental organisation providing mapping in humanitarian emergencies, and provided dedicated disaster preparedness training. She is recipient of a Reuters community award for her work with the Mines Advisory Group/MapAction in Angola.

Liesbeth holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Marine Biology from Plymouth University and a Masters in Geographical Information Management from Cranfield University. She was a Global Marine Fellow at the Nicholas School of Environment (marine lab), Duke University, USA.