Hannah Brennan is an interdisciplinary researcher based at the Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre (NZIIC), where she works across applied research, policy engagement, and sustainability-led innovation. Her role at NZIIC centres on integrating artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics into decarbonisation pathways, particularly in logistics, digital trade, and infrastructure systems. With an academic background in international development and a professional track record in digital innovation, Hannah brings a unique perspective to systems transformation for net zero. She contributes to the design and delivery of research projects, collaborative industrial partnerships, and regional sustainability strategies, helping bridge the gap between technical innovation and real-world impact.

Hannah’s research interests include the development of AI-driven methods for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting, automation of trade and customs workflows through natural language processing (NLP), and the role of embodied emissions in supply chains. She is particularly interested in the interplay between large language models (LLMs), operational research, and sustainability. Her work explores how data and AI can be leveraged to support just and efficient transitions in sectors such as freight, maritime logistics, and industrial decarbonisation.

Hannah is also the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Seer, a data innovation agency that delivers AI-driven solutions for sustainability, logistics, and trade. Through Seer, she leads enterprise-focused research and development that bridges cutting-edge academic insight with real-world deployment. A key outcome of this work is Flytta, a digital tool designed to automate import and export customs declarations, reducing administrative burden and supporting emissions transparency in freight systems.

Hannah is also spearheading the early-stage development of a sustainable, community-owned data centre, exploring low-carbon digital infrastructure for regional resilience. Her enterprise interests are grounded in the North East, with a focus on enabling net-zero transitions for Tees Valley industries through digital tools, AI integration, and collaborative innovation models. Seer acts as a conduit between academia, business, and the public sector, demonstrating the practical value of applied research in place-based economic and environmental transformation.

Contributes to the MSc Sustainability Business Specialist in Partnership with TUIBS and Grant Thornton as a course tutor on the module: Introduction to Sustainbaility Principles and Data Analysis. 

Hannah has been selected to represent the UK Government on Trade Missions to Jakarta Indonesia to discuss the collaboration between the UK and South East Asia on AI and Science.