Irene (Nussi) Hakansson

Nussi is the Research and Impact Lead at the Design Council. She oversees our research programmes into the value of design (Design Economy, in particular) and supports the development of the Design for Planet research agenda. In addition, Nussi manages the strategic development of the Design Council's impact framework.

Before joining the Design Council, she worked within urban regeneration, leading on the impact of social and economic investment projects in London. She was also a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne where she collaborated with local government and academic partners to investigate innovative responses to the Climate Emergency. 

Nussi holds a PhD from King’s College London. Her practice-oriented research combined urban and sustainability studies, exploring social innovations’ transformational effects on places and communities. Her work was embedded in a pan-European project, informing policy makers on transitions to sustainable, low-carbon societies. She has authored several publications. 

Nussi spends much of her spare time with her young family, balancing cultural outings to exhibitions, theatres, and bookshops with country walks and bike rides.