Jonty Slater

Director for International Development

At Challenge Works, Jonty is interim Director for International Development. Jonty’s role is to work with new and existing partners to develop new challenges worldwide, focusing on climate and technology challenges.
Before Nesta, Jonty has over 15 years’ experience in the open innovation field. With a particular focus on innovation within international development. In addition to specialising in innovation technologies, Jonathan was one of the founders of ONSPEED, a company that built disruptive technologies used by over three million users worldwide. He also created and managed a company from startup stage through to flotation on AIM in June 2005. Jonty was recently part of a team that raised the largest #ethical investment bond with Triodos Bank for a single Hydro Electrical installation in Europe.

Jonty currently advises and supports a number of large-scale innovation programmes and works to identify best working practices in the open innovation field. Having researched, designed and delivered over 450 innovation programmes. Jonty has been leading the use of innovation in new areas, in social innovation and decentralisation of energy and adaptation. When not involved in innovation programmes, he mentors a number of SME businesses, both in the UK and East Africa on sustainable and #ethical business development.
In his spare time, Jonty enjoys wild swimming and meditation.