Tanya Popeau

Tanya Popeau is the Director of Synthesis - her expertise lies in innovation and sustainability. She has worked with the world’s leading corporates, non-profits, government agencies and academic institutions, to design breakthrough innovations to global challenges. Her clients have included Unilever, the United Nations, UK government, UCL and the University of Chicago.

Her projects have covered a range of sustainability issues including urban poverty, energy efficiency, social cohesion, sustainable development and education.

Tanya was also a consultant and advisor to the United Nations. She worked for the UN’s largest agency and was at the forefront of their shift to a strategic focus on innovation. She implemented this new approach across 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific, overseeing the development of the first ever innovation fund in the region. She was the lead consultant on the fund, which generated projects which tackled challenges from natural disasters to women’s economic empowerment.

At Royal Holloway, University of London, Tanya led the start-up of a new innovative programme. She designed and implemented a range of projects working with over 10 academic departments. In her role, she successfully involved new strategic partners from the private sector and creative industries including the BBC, Amnesty International, Mercedes Benz, BP, Oxfam, Arsenal Football Club and Procter & Gamble.

Tanya studied at Cambridge university and Kings College London. Her studies have focused on innovating to solve complex global challenges, and the use of new emerging technologies to bring about positive social impact.