Novation Europe
The
Team
The Novation Europe team is a community of high-calibre individuals, providing a comprehensive ecosystem for succeeding in EU R&I.
Our collective expertise spans the full spectrum of needs: from in-depth knowledge of the EU funding environment to the nuances of internal research operations; from navigating research culture to the practicalities of networking and partnership development, spanning both academic and industry research.
“The Novation Europe Team offers a wealth of experience and insight on all aspects of EU innovation funding and partnership.
Dr Pam Waddell OBE
Whatever your barriers or challenges to getting started or progressing, there is someone to help you through.”
Chair, Innovation Alliance West Midlands
Organisations and networks can draw upon this unique team to meet their bespoke strategic, expertise, and capacity needs.
We provide flexible and dynamic engagement through a modular approach designed to be expandable, allowing us to bring in the right expertise and know-how to meet your needs.
The practitioners on this page form our core foundation, part of a wider ecosystem of trusted specialists who all share our human-centric mindset and hands-on operational experience
How the Novation Europe ecosystem and team is organised
Associate Experts
A core team of very experienced practitioners from the professional, policy, and academic and non-academic worlds who share our human-centric mindset and deliver our services.
Visiting Experts
A curated network of specialists who provide additional deep, targeted expertise on an ad-hoc basis. They are engaged for specific challenges, such as providing a ‘critical friend’ review on a complex proposal, offering niche policy insight, or advising on highly specialised topics.
Advocates
Senior and influential figures who share Novation Europe vision and act as advocates for our mission in the wider ecosystem.
Xavier Rodde
EU R&I Strategy, Policy & Influence, Institutional Leadership,
Full-Cycle Support (Bid-to-Audit), Networking and
Cross-Sector Partnership Brokering.
About Xavier
Xavier Rodde is an EU research and innovation strategist and practitioner with over 25 years’ experience in European funding and policy, institutional strategy development and operational delivery, cross-sectoral and cross border partnership development, proposal design and project delivery.
Until recently, he served as Assistant Director in the Research Strategy and Services Division at the University of Birmingham (UoB), leading research providing strategic and operational leadership across the University’s EU and international research portfolio as well as implemented an integrated ‘project lifecycle’ support model for the Colleges of Arts & Law and Social Sciences providing a seamless “research office” function, providing efficient end-to-end support.
He also established and managed the University of Birmingham’s Brussels office, strengthening the institution’s presence and influence in the European policy environment.
Beyond his institutional role, Xavier has contributed to the wider R&I ecosystem. He has chaired EU regional innovation groups, participated in national advisory committees on UK-EU R&I engagement, and worked with the European Commission, the Joint Research Centre, and international partners to develop collaborative frameworks and research training programmes.
Tatiana Panteli
Proposal Development, Funding Expertise (Horizon, COST, Erasmus+), Expert Evaluator Insight, Collaborative Bid Specialism, Brussels Engagement.
About Tatiana
Tatiana Panteli is a highly experienced EU funding and proposal development expert, specialising in collaborative research bids, particularly under Horizon Europe, COST, and Erasmus+ programmes.
Tatiana currently serves as Director (Grants & Education) at International Society of Nephrology, as well as as Expert Evaluator for Horizon Europe, COST, and Erasmus+, bringing authoritative insight into proposal design, evaluation criteria, and best practices for securing funding success.
She previously held senior roles as Head of Brussels Office for the Eurotech University Alliance, and the Energy Efficiency in Industrial Processes (EEIP). Her senior professional experience extends to University of Wolverhampton (UK), the University of Birmingham (UK), the West Midlands European Service and Climate Change Solutions Ltd, where she led EU engagement strategies, research development, and sustainability initiatives.
Dr Peter Churchill
EU Science-Policy Interface, High-Level Strategy (EU & International), JRC & Commission Expertise, Research Programme Knowledge, International R&I Collaboration.
Peter’s short bio
An environmental scientist by training, Peter served in many scientific and management roles in the European Commission ending as Advisor to the Director General of the European Commission’s scientific arm, the Joint Research Centre, on its scientific development.
Peter has full and deep knowledge of the European Union’s research policy, research programmes, and research organisations. He brings over 40 years in research and research management, strategy and policy from the project level to the European and international level.
Peter has chaired G7 technical groups in a range of fields related to Earth observation, and has worked extensively with a wide range of European and international organisations.
Peter was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Wolverhampton and served as Honorary Professor at the University of Birmingham.
Dr Brendan Laverty
Research Governance & Ethics, IP and Data Management, Live Project Review and Evaluation,
Clinical Trials Governance,
Research Contracts,
Industry R&D.
About Brendan
Brendan is a Chartered Chemist and a Chartered Engineer, having spent 20 years as a research scientist and latterly as a process engineer in the oil and gas industries.
Brendan serves as an active Expert Evaluator for the European Commission on Horizon (H2020 & HEurope), including live project reviews.
Brendan previously served as Head of Research Governance and Ethics at the University of Birmingham and Vice-Chair of a Health Research Authority Research Ethics Committee, reviewing applications for research involving human participants in the NHS, and as a Lay Member of the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee at the University of Warwick.
As an academic research manager, Brendan led research operation for research contracts, research governance and research ethics functions, including specialist support for the governance of clinical trials.
Susannah Goh
Strategic Programme Design and Delivery (UK/EU), Cross-Sector Innovation (health, environmental & digital), Socio-Economic Impact & Innovation, Well-being and Research Culture.
About Susannah
As a specialist in economic development, sustainability and urban place-making, Susannah offers more than 20 years experience in socio-technical innovation.
Susannah advises government, industry, NGO and education/research client-partners on smart, connected and inclusive places.
Most recently a Programme Director, at the University of Nottingham, UK, she has held senior and sector expert roles covering: construction, energy, health and life sciences, digital and data, and regeneration.
Working throughout the UK and collaborating in Europe and Asia, she has designed and delivered major strategic programmes as well as exciting pilot projects, and designs toolkits and frameworks to maximise clients’ innovation and socio-economic impacts.
Jon Brookes
EU R&I Strategy, People Development, EU R&I funding bids and post-award, Brussels Engagement,
Public Sector Innovation
and Service delivery.
About Jon
A specialist in EU Affairs with 12 years experience of identifying funding opportunities, managing European projects and providing strategic advice to partners on European Research and Innovation policy.
Jon served as a senior funding advisor at the UKRI Europe Office (UKRO) as well as as a the National Contact Point for the UK for the European Research Council, the “Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence” sub-programme, as well as the COST programme.
Jon also served as a International Funding Officer at Bristol City Council bringing expertise and insight of the public sector.
Having lived and worked in Brussels for eight years, Jon possesses an extensive network of contacts within the European Commission as well as with other international organisations.
