K
elly Brough, CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and former mayoral candidate, has been appointed as the new head of the Fitzsimons Innovation Community in Aurora. She will replace outgoing CEO Steve VanNurden, who is retiring at the end of the month. Brough's three-year contract starts early next year with a salary of $320,000.

    Fitzsimons, a 184-acre life sciences campus, has five buildings with over 427,000 square feet of research space and serves more than 80 companies working on cutting-edge projects such as cancer-fighting cells and vaccine science. The campus is positioned near three major hospitals and aims to support bioscience research and attract industry to the area.

    Brough expressed her excitement about the opportunity, citing the campus's potential for growth and innovation. She has a background in public service, having served as chief of staff to former Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and working on urban development and infrastructure at the Common Sense Institute.

    The Denver-Boulder region is rapidly becoming a major hub for the life science industry, with companies seeking lab space and research facilities. Last year, 14 companies sought over 506,000 square feet of lab space in the area, with another 560,000 square feet in development. Brough's appointment comes as Fitzsimons continues to expand its campus, developing its final 60 acres and increasing nearby housing options.