Leigh-Anne Russell - UK + China

Co-founder of Nestworks

Leigh-Anne is from the UK and has called the Greater China area home for over 20 years. She was instrumental in the creation of Gongyi Xintiandi (The Nest), Shanghai largest government initiative to support local NGOs and social enterprise development. In 2014 together with David Li, cofounder of China’s first hackerspace, Xinchejian, Leigh-Anne cofounded a social enterprise called Nestworks as a platform to enable the creation of new tech products and services that improve the lives of the disadvantaged. Through their events, workshops and accelerator services, Nestworks merges maker culture, design thinking and assistive technology innovation. Bringing together thinkers and doers to spark conversations and collaborations that lead to new and more affordable ways to apply existing technologies to help people in need across the world.