EXPERTISE

Will’s areas of expertise include:

• leading international manufacturing chemicals operations;
• developing business and manufacturing strategies;
• taking innovative technologies to market; and,
• setting up and leading small company boards.

HIGHLIGHTS

After completing a degree in physics and a doctorate in theoretical physics in Oxford, Will returned to Imperical Chemical Industries, where he had previously taken a gap year pre-university, and progressed through a series of technical / manufacturing roles culminating in a 5-year spell as Manufacturing Director of the USA division. After 5 years in a larger manufacturing role with a division of FMC, he joined a JV of Monsanto and Akzo Nobel to become VP of Manufacturing & Technology, a global role based in Belgium.

In 2005, Will returned to the UK and began working with university spin-outs, initially co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Oxford Catalysts (now Velocys plc), and later, in non-executive roles with Oxford Biotrans, NiTech Solutions, HydRegen and ViridiCO2. During this period Will also spent time with Innovate UK where he led the Manufacturing team and set up / initially led the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, later helping set up and now chairing the board of the Republic of Ireland’s equivalent (Irish Manufacturing Research). He is a Board and Council member of the Chemical Industries Association.

Will was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2006 and awarded an OBE in the New Year 2016 Honours list for services to innovation and manufacturing.