Jane Kennedy is one of the UK’s most experienced builders of life sciences communities. Over more than two decades, she has helped some of Scotland’s and England’s most important science parks attract ambitious companies, develop ecosystems and create the conditions in which innovation can thrive. Her career began in advertising and communications before pivoting decisively into the world of science parks and incubators - a sector in which she has become a recognised leader.

Her early roles in Scotland included building life sciences communities at Roslin BioCentre - the Edinburgh science park adjacent to the institute that produced Dolly the sheep - and BioCity Scotland, where she was instrumental in establishing what became one of Scotland’s leading life sciences incubators on the former Merck Sharp & Dohme research site in Lanarkshire. She was also actively involved in wider ecosystem initiatives including the Glasgow BioCorridor, Glasgow’s Clinical Innovation Zone and the University of Edinburgh’s Bayes Centre. Before moving to Kent, she developed management teams and boards for high-growth technology companies at Eden Scott Talent Spark.

In 2021 she joined Discovery Park in Sandwich, Kent as Chief Business Officer- one of only seven Life Science Opportunity Zones designated by the UK Office for Life Sciences. The 220-acre site is home to more than 160 companies, including Pfizer, which occupies around a third of the park. Jane has been at the forefront of driving Discovery Park’s ambition to become a world-leading science park and a credible extension of the UK’s “Golden Triangle”, capitalising on its high-spec laboratory space, improving transport links to London and significantly lower operating costs than Oxford or Cambridge.

Under her tenure, Discovery Park has launched a start-up venture fund, opened a Barclays Eagle Lab, developed new incubation facilities and deepened partnerships with the NHS, local universities and corporate tenants. Jane is a vocal champion for women in science leadership, and a firm believer that the role of the science park is to create the serendipitous connections that accelerate innovation - bringing together people who would never otherwise meet.