Mike Pitts

Webit Speaker, Interim Head of Urban Living & Built Environment, Innovate UK

Mike is the Head of Urban Systems covering the priority areas of Urban Living and Smart Infrastructure. These future markets are driven by the addition of  data layers to infrastructure and enable new and different services to be delivered to citizens. Mike previously led on embedding sustainability across Innovate UK’s strategy and programmes since November 2012. He has also led Clean and Cool entrepreneur Missions in 2013 to Brazil and 2015 to San Francisco. Mike also ran the Resource Efficiency programme during 2013/14. 

Previously Mike spent five years driving sustainability-led innovation in the chemical industry with Chemistry Innovation. He has developed and managed projects on lifecycle analysis, renewable chemicals, industrial biotechnology and resource efficiency across the chemistry-using industries. Mike holds a PhD in organic chemistry and spent his early career in several technology spin-outs leading R&D teams developing process technology for the pharmaceutical, agrochemical and electronics industries.