University of Cambridge
Michelle Zappala Wood Head of People and Culture

Leading the people and office teams at Cambridge Enterprise, Michelle is responsible for developing and delivering strategic initiatives that support the wider business goals and ensuring that Cambridge Enterprise is legally compliant in all HR matters.

In addition, Michelle oversees the recruitment, development, and retention of employees and is responsible for maintaining a culture of growth, innovation, and collaboration.

Before joining Cambridge Enterprise, Michelle worked in Tech for Good start-ups, most recently as Head of People at birdie Care. Prior to that, Michelle spent over 12 years working in the financial services sector, most notably at globally renowned institutions such as Advent International, BlueBay Asset Management and Tennenbaum Capital Partners (now BlackRock TCP Capital Corp). Michelle’s background spans across Human Resources, Operations, and Marketing & Investor Relations, which has given her a well-rounded view of the operating needs of a company.

Michelle is a member of the Chartered Institute for Professional Development (CIPD) and holds an MPhil in Sociology from the University of Cambridge.

Michelle joined Cambridge Enterprise in April 2023.