Merle Hall is CEO of Kinneir Dufort (KD), a world leading, user-centred Innovation and Product Development consultancy, whose purpose is to Design a Better World.  She has over 20 years’ experience in consultancy, an expert in Design Thinking, Strategy and Innovation, launching life-changing products and services for Healthcare and FMCG businesses globally. In 2016, Merle led a private-equity backed management buyout of KD.

Merle sits on the board of the Design Business Association (DBA) and Kerning the Gap (KtG), championing women in design leadership and is leading a national KtG roll out programme, as well as partnering with STEM organisations Teen Tech and the Big Bang, focusing on the next generation of innovators, designers and engineers.