Our Story
Edge Innovation was set up in 2015 to support innovation with and across public, private and charitable sectors, working with organisations of all sizes and in a wide range of different industries.
Our expertise lies in our ability to help clients address challenges through design and innovation. This expertise is relevant for any organisation, as the approaches are not industry-specific.
Our principles
We take a design-led approach to our work, which to us means the following.
We build collaboration beyond boundaries
We seek and embrace alternative perspectives
We nurture critical and creative mindsets
We seek to understand challenges first, before moving to solutions
We make information and ideas tangible
We are curious and put what we learn into practice at pace
Meet the team
We are a multidisciplinary team with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and expertise. From design-led thinking to access to finance and programme management, we are connected by a shared commitment to creating a better future together.
Simon Green
Chief Executive
Simon has a background in corporate innovation, leading projects in Africa, Latin America and Asia for five years. He subsequently set up and ran technology businesses in healthcare and transport before moving into innovation support and access to finance, generating over £20m in funding for North East businesses over the past decade.
Having set up Edge Innovation in 2015, Simon subsequently span out the Innovation SuperNetwork, Rural Design Centre (focused on design-led solutions for rural communities) and set up Northumberland Community Energy Ltd. Simon has a degree in chemistry from Sheffield University, an MBA from Durham University and the Certificate in Corporate Finance through the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.
Susan Ross
Deputy Director
With over 20 years' experience in the VCSE sector across the Midlands and North East, Susan brings deep knowledge of community-led regeneration, especially in rural areas. She has led complex public sector partnerships and supported projects from grassroots initiatives to multi-million pound developments. With expertise in engagement, consultation, marketing, funding, and project management, Susan bridges the private, public, and charitable sectors. She also holds several voluntary roles, including director of a health and wellbeing CIC and chair of a community association. Susan is passionate about placing people at the heart of innovation, as seen in her work with the Tees Valley Innovation Challenge Programme.
Mélissa Bourseau
Head of Design
With a master's degree in multidisciplinary innovation from Northumbria University’s world class Design School, Melissa uses human-centered design principles to develop new concepts and turn them into implementable solutions. Her experience is in running design-led processes from initial discovery work through to delivery, having worked across a range of corporate, small business, public and academic projects.
This experience has included work within tightly regulated industries such as utilities and financial services, providing the skills to innovate in fields where compliance is important. Melissa’s particular strength is in creating and facilitating interactive design sessions, bringing together multiple perspectives to reach new but implementable solutions.
Ellie Mackey
Design Associate
Ellie is a highly collaborative designer with a passion for creating sustainable, circular design solutions. A graduate of Northumbria University with a bachelor in Design for Industry, Ellie has crafted her skills in designing products, services, and user experiences. She brings a strong focus on empathy to her work, using it to identify and address user and stakeholder needs effectively.
Ellie applies her knowledge of the design process to help organisations develop innovative products and services. Her role involves designing and facilitating training workshops, providing one-on-one support, and creating graphic design materials, including pitch decks and branding.
Alan Holmes
Board chair
Alan has a successful track record as a businessman, having worked in a senior role with Formica before establishing, growing and selling the strategy consultancy Wood Holmes. He has supported SME innovation through a number of positions including as the first Chair of the Innovation SuperNetwork and as Chair of fast-growing cycling holiday business Saddle Skedaddle.
Whilst at North East Finance, he launched the Routes to Investment range of SME support activities and services. He has expertise in a range of markets including business to business, education, public sector, construction and engineering.
