Dr Nick Rousseau

BA (Cantab), MSc, PhD

Pronouns: He/him
  • MECS International Liaison Manager
  • Nick holds BA, MSc and PhD degrees in psychology from the universities of Cambridge, Loughborough and Sheffield with a focus on psychology and user-centred system design.
  • Nick has over 20 years of experience of working in UK Government – his final role was Head of International Innovation Strategy at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.
  • Nick has a personal interest in sustainable solutions to local and global food-related challenges – in 2015 he set up the Woven Network – UK-based network for those working on insect protein. https://woven-network.co.uk
  • Nick’s consultancy, Unconventional Connections, focuses on innovation strategy and collaboration and recently included work funded by DfID on harnessing the UK’s strengths in clean energy technology to increase access to clean energy in Africa and SE Asia. https://www.unconventionalconnections.co.uk/

Nick is part of the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) project - a five-year programme funded by UK Aid (DFID). 

By integrating modern energy cooking services into the planning for electricity access, quality, reliability and sustainability, MECS hopes to leverage investment in renewable energies (both grid and off-grid) to address the clean cooking challenge.  MECS is implementing a strategy focused on including the cooking needs of households into the investment and action on ‘access to affordable, reliable, sustainable modern energy for all’. 

Within the MECS project, Nick is one of the International Liaison Managers where he leads the work with India, working closely with the MECS In-country partner – Finovista – and the work with cooking device companies, supporting the development of a supply of affordable and suitable appliances into the markets.

Alongside this, his consultancy work consists of a wide range of projects that often involve investigating sector landscapes and opportunities for international collaboration.

Publications under the MECS programme can be found here.

Reports produced by Unconventional Connections can be found here

  • Rousseau, N., Dickinson, K., Owen, L., Cloke, J., Davies, A. and Kenworthy, F. Potential for Application of UK Energy-Related Technologies to Developing Countries July 2019. LCEDN publication
  • Fernandes, K., Oxley, G., Goumagias, N., Purvis, K and Rousseau, N.P. (2018) Innovation Observatory NELEP Innovation Indicators Report, Newcastle.
  • Rousseau, N.P. (2018) What new initiative or research could increase scientific and technological breakthroughs improving the human condition given the global and diverse nature of the participants involved?  UK Commission for UNESCO Chairs Workshop.
  • Rousseau, N.P. (2017) Challenges for people looking to China for Innovation Partners.  Sheffield China Business Seminar - Intellectual Property Rights
  • Rousseau, N.P. (2017) Can edible insects help feed the world more sustainably? at A Sustainable Food Future: Climate Change, Urbanisation & Innovation Consumption Trends and Food Choices. Chatham House, The Royal Institute of International Affairs, RSA, London
  • Rousseau, N.P. (2017). The use of insects in the animal production sector with an insight into consumer perception of insects as food or feed and potential to replace antibiotics, World Poultry Science Association (UK) Conference, Chester, 26-27 April 2017.
  • Rousseau, N.P. (2016). Policy Context: UK-China Collaboration on Innovation, July 2016 3rd International Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice Relevant to China and other Transitional Economies, At Lancaster, UK.
  • Franklin, I. and Rousseau, N.P. (1995) Implementing user centred design within a user organisation, IEE Colloquium on Integrating HCI in the Lifecycle
  • Candy, L., Edmonds, E., Heggie, S., Murray, B., and Rousseau, N.P.  (1995) A Strategy and technology for front end system development. In Advances in Human Factors/Ergonomics