Introducing Natalia Ganowicz, Venari Partners’ New Sustainable Chemicals & Fermentation Consultant

Venari Partners is excited to announce the arrival of Natalia Ganowicz, who has joined as a Consultant. Working in the fermentation and sustainable chemicals sectors, she brings a diverse range of search experience – not least in industries that represent new ground for the business.

Natalia moved to the UK from Poland ten years ago and found her feet quickly as a recruiter. She holds a degree in neuroscience – which she achieved while working full-time – and notes that it is helpful for understanding some of the complex science inherent to her industries.  An interest in sustainability and renewable energy meant that working with startups focused on clean fuels (predominantly hydrogen) was a logical move. However, during the first Trump administration, hydrogen production slowed down – and since the US was Natalia’s principal market, it meant she had to look for new avenues in the space.

Syzygy Plasmonics, a green hydrogen manufacturing startup Natalia worked with, recommended her to Solugen, which was her first experience of seeing how fermentation can be used to create clean chemicals. The company’s use of feedstock in bioreactors to create sustainable chemicals sparked Natalia’s curiosity, leading her to focus on hiring in sustainable chemicals and fermentation ever since. She continues to enjoy exploring the market – and seeing the innovative ways in which companies in her sectors are developing alternatives to fossil fuels.

‘It is amazing to think that fermentation – a process we are more familiar with for the role it plays in producing cheese and alcohol – can also feature in the decarbonisation of chemical manufacturing,’ Natalia says. While many people associate carbon capture solely with removing CO₂ from the atmosphere, a growing number of innovative companies are using the process to convert the element into high-value products, from specialty chemicals to alternative proteins, via fermentation.

While chemical manufacturing is still early in its transition away from fossil-derived feedstocks and energy-intensive processes, Natalia sees major momentum building. ‘The market is currently comprised of startups and scaleups, mostly,’ she notes. ‘I’m taking a broader view, as not only do I think demand for these fuels will grow, but I also believe that the potential for areas like bioplastics, biopolymers, fermentation-derived chemicals, and mycelium-based materials to transform manufacturing, packaging, and a wide range of industrial applications, is enormous. It’s a truly exciting time for my sector and I’m looking forward to getting started in earnest at Venari Partners!’

Natalia focuses on senior leadership and executive appointments across the entire product and technology value chain, from scientific discovery through to commercialisation. This includes R&D and technical directors that set the scientific roadmap, heads of process and product development who translate innovation into scalable manufacturing, senior operational leaders driving industrial deployment, product directors that define market positioning and strategy, and commercial and business development executives accelerating growth and partnerships.

Her work supports organisations in building the leadership required to take breakthrough technologies from concept to market impact. Natalia is also the founder and curator of Women in Fermentation, a LinkedIn group aimed at women working in the sector to network, collaborate, and share insights, trends, breakthroughs, and opportunities. She has big plans for expanding the group, so watch this space.

Stay tuned for further content from Natalia as she settles into her new role – but for now, please join us in welcoming Natalia to Venari Partners! If you would like to hear more about how Natalia can help your organisation’s talent strategy, please get in touch today.