As CreaTech Frontiers continues to grow, we’re taking a moment to recognise and celebrate someone who has played a significant role in shaping the programme and the wider creative technology ecosystem.
After leading CreaTech Frontiers as Cluster Manager, Laura Veart will be moving on to a new role as Delivery Manager for the Creative Places Growth Fund at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
Laura has more than 25 years of programme management experience across the private sector and higher education, alongside a strong passion for innovation, creativity and the role technology can play in transforming the creative industries.
Before joining CreaTech Frontiers, Laura was International Programme Manager at Birmingham City University’s STEAMhouse, an interdisciplinary innovation hub. During her time there, she led and supported a number of pioneering international projects exploring the connections between creativity, technology, education and regional development.
This included managing an Interreg Europe project connecting cities and municipalities across Europe to explore how creative spaces can contribute to innovation policy and regional growth. Laura also led a transnational Erasmus+ project focused on STEAM Innovation and Curriculum, working with eight European universities to explore how interdisciplinarity can be embedded within higher education. As part of this work, she collaborated with the renowned Ars Electronica Festival in Linz, Austria, bringing creative experimentation and critical thinking into academic practice on an international stage.
Since joining CreaTech Frontiers, Laura has brought this wealth of experience, energy and enthusiasm to the programme. She has played an important role in building relationships across the region, supporting our university and industry partners, connecting businesses and organisations, and helping to shape our ambitions for creative technology and innovation across the West Midlands.
Her contribution has helped CreaTech Frontiers continue to build a strong and connected creative technology ecosystem, one that brings together businesses, researchers, universities and creative practitioners to explore new ideas and opportunities.
While we’re sad to see Laura leave the CreaTech Frontiers team, we’re delighted that she will be continuing her work within the West Midlands creative ecosystem. In her new role at WMCA, Laura will support the delivery of the Creative Places Growth Fund, another major regional initiative supporting the growth and development of the creative sector.
This means it’s not really goodbye — we look forward to continuing to work with Laura, collaborating across the region and seeing the impact she will make in this next chapter.
Laura, thank you for everything you have contributed to CreaTech Frontiers. Your enthusiasm, expertise and support have made a real difference to the programme and to the people and organisations we’ve had the pleasure of working with.
From everyone at CreaTech Frontiers, we wish you every success in your new role and the exciting journey ahead! 🌟
