Mary Barlow

As EMBL-EBI’s Head of Major Initiatives, Mary Barlow supports the EMBL-EBI Director in delivering the institute’s strategic objectives and ambitions. Her team plays a vital role in delivering capital investments, providing project management, risk oversight, and strategic planning to support the institute’s evolving needs.

Previously, Mary led EMBL-EBI’s strategic project management office, expanding to support EMBL-EBI's campus operations teams. Since joining the institute, Mary has played a central role in EMBL-EBI’s long-standing UK Government infrastructure development programmes, spanning three different investment awards. Her work has spanned facilities, health and safety, procurement and programme management, investment proposals, organisational change, and impact assessment.

Before joining EMBL-EBI, Mary was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, following her early experience as the first female electrical and electronic engineer at AEA Technology Sellafield. She holds a degree in Mathematics and Engineering from the University of Nottingham.