She moved through a variety of roles with ICI, including Engineering Manager and Capital Project Manager. Her final role with the company was as a Senior Consultant with ICI’s UK Management Consultancy operation.

Following her career with ICI and before joining Cogent she worked in commercial management for technology company ABB Ltd, including marketing and sales responsibility for a portfolio of services and products mainly to the oil and gas industry. She has over 15 years experience of building business both in the UK and in Asia. Her management consultancy experience includes operations change management programmes. She has also benchmarked the supply chain and manufacturing performance of chemical plants inside and outside ICI. She was the joint author of the Report on the UK Process Industries for PICME (Process Industries Centre for Manufacturing Excellence).

Laura will initially build on key initiatives which are already underway, including Cogent’s Upskill and Passports “Big Ticket Items” which employers already have said they want, via its Sector Skills Research Programme. 

In the case of Upksill, Cogent is developing a programme that allows employees’ existing skills to be recognised against national standards. With Passports, Cogent is undertaking a comprehensive review of passports for contractors, identifying gaps in existing provision and putting in place a streamlined system.

Laura said: “I am delighted to be joining Cogent at a time when it is focusing firmly on the development and delivery of strategic programmes and products for its industries.

“Cogent is moving from undertaking in-depth skills research in its industries to action-orientated projects which are aimed at boosting sector competitiveness and sustainability.”

Laura is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (FIET) and is married with two children.