Since January 2024, Harriet enjoys a portfolio career. This includes a range of consultancy, pro bono and charitable work.
She is Chair of Cambridge Ahead, Chair of the Cambridge Science Centre, sits on the Governing Body of Anglia Ruskin University– which won University of the Year with the Times in 2023 and is Founder Director of HFA Ltd, the latter being her consultancy company.
Harriet was a Diplomat for over 20 years with the British Foreign Office. She served in 17 countries, in various roles including Deputy Ambassador 3 times, Head of Press and Public Affairs and Head of Commercial Services. She regularly served in hostile environments, trouble-shooting specific crises including in the Congo, Cambodia and Ethiopia.
Half her diplomatic career was spent in the commercial field, helping SME’s trade internationally. For 5 years she was the Head of the Governments national Life Sciences and Healthcare Trade Team.
Harriet was Chief Executive of One Nucleus from 2009 to 2017, which became the largest life science and healthcare membership body in Europe under her leadership and won a major award as ‘Best Global Life Sciences and Healthcare membership organisation’ in 2016. From 2019 to 2023 she created, set up and led the University of Cambridge’s inward investment company Cambridge&.
Harriet was the Prime Minister’s Business Ambassador for Life Sciences for 5 years to 2018. She has worked at the heart of the Cambridge business ecosystem since 2003. She was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2016 for her services to Healthcare and Life Sciences
