Jim DawtonDirector, Impeller VenturesJim Dawton is on a mission to reduce waste – the waste generated under the auspices of innovation. He operates a radically different venturing model – literally “innovating innovation” to quote an early advocate of his approach. Other supporters have been inspired to publish a book that challenges organisations to question their own innovation strategies. Whilst some simply seek Jim’s clarity of thought – he’s an Expert Advisor on the UK Government’s National Measurement System’s Life Sciences and Health Programme; is a Visiting Fellow at Cranfield University’s Management School, and is the Joker-in-Residence at Brunel University London. As well as other university roles, Jim advises numerous businesses from fledgling start-ups through family firms to international corporates – typically at board level.Having graduated in industrial design from Newcastle Polytechnic in 1991, Jim began his career designing consumer products for global brands from London-based design firms. In 2004 he shifted focus and headed up a specialist health and life sciences design consultancy that, alongside Unilever R&D, was pioneering the use of design within research and development. His growing expertise prompted an advisory role for the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board that has led to design now being a core component of many of Innovate UK’s funding schemes. Jim lectures at design, business and medical schools and is a regular speaker and/or chair at both national and international conferences. He’s been a trustee of several charities and is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce since winning the “Best Of” category in their 1990 Student Design Awards.