In this episode of Meaningful Conversations, Annyse sits down with Dr Angela MacOscar, Head of Innovation at Northumbrian Water — a visionary leader with a PhD in physical chemistry and a passion for building cultures where innovation can truly thrive.

Angela chose the Bold card, and from that simple starting point, a rich conversation unfolded around regeneration, roots, diversity, and what it really takes to create lasting change in the water sector.

What We Explore in This Episode

Regeneration as a Leadership Philosophy
For Angela, regeneration is about strong roots and solid foundations. Without purpose and diversity, nothing sustainable grows. It’s about planting the right seeds now for a future we may not immediately see.

The Northumbrian Water Innovation Festival
Now approaching its 10th year, the festival has grown from six design sprints and 900 attendees to:

• 53 sprints
• 3,000+ participants
• 39 countries
• 45 sectors

One early sprint led to the creation of the UK’s National Underground Asset Register, now a government-run platform improving safety and saving billions. Proof that bold ideas, nurtured well, create real impact.

Innovation Is a Contact Sport
Angela shares why innovation must be done with people, not to people. From engaging senior leaders to empowering frontline teams, culture is everything.

With a central team of nine, they’ve built a network of over 200 Innovation Ambassadors across the organisation. Today, innovation is a core pillar at Northumbrian Water, with a measurable goal: 40% of employees actively involved.

Creating the Conditions for Innovation

• Compassionate leadership
• Family-first values
• A four-day working week
• Space for thinking and reflection
• Using AI to remove repetitive tasks
• Psychological safety to ask for help

Angela reminds us that tired, stressed humans struggle to innovate. Space and empathy are not soft extras — they are strategic necessities.

A Wiggly Career Path
From leaving school at 16 to earning a PhD, working at Procter & Gamble, launching a product still on shelves 26 years later, building a lifestyle business, and eventually finding her home in the water sector — Angela’s journey is a powerful reminder that careers don’t need to be linear to be impactful.

Key Themes

• Regenerative leadership
• Diversity as a driver of innovation
• Designing environments where bold ideas can grow
• Stewardship of water and natural systems
• Leaving organisations and people better than you found them

Show notes 

• Northumbrian Water - Northumbrian Water | Supplying water and Sewerage Services in the North East of England
• Northumbrian Water Innovation Festival - The Festival
• Ofwat funding – Water innovation competitions - Ofwat
• Derek Siver, how to create a movement - Derek Sivers: How to start a movement | TED Talk
• National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) - National Underground Asset Register (NUAR), Northumbrian Water Group and a Culture of Innovation – Geospatial Insights