Ellen is a freelance business strategist, coach, facilitator and published researcher with a background in cultural and creative entrepreneurship, incubation, new business models and access to finance.  She is currently lead coach for the first Digital Arts & Culture Accelerator and an advisor with Creative Industry Finance.  Clients include Nesta, Innovate UK, British Council, National Arts Council Singapore and Business & Arts South Africa.

As Head of Business Development at award-winning craft incubator Cockpit Arts, Ellen set up the pioneering Cockpit Arts and Ingenious Loan Fund and has also held roles at the Prince's Trust and Arts Council England. Ellen began her career in management consultancy at Arthur Andersen.  She is a Clore Leadership Fellow 2014/15, SFEDI accredited coach, Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts and holds a degree in Economics & Econometrics from the University of Birmingham.

She also sits on the board of You Make it, This is Not a Gateway, and is co-founder and editor at City Writers Room.