Hello!
I am an experienced professional with strong interest in entrepreneurship, strategy and innovation. I am a passionate lecturer and curious researcher. I hold a PhD, MBA and I am a Chartered Engineer
Driven by a passion for innovation, productivity and sustainability — I strive to make a meaningful difference in the world. As a solutions-oriented and forward-thinking professional, I thrive in taking on the challenge of tackling real-world problems and assisting clients in devising R&D investment, innovation and technology strategies. Guided by the principles of fairness, integrity, honesty and excellence, I have strong leadership abilities and am highly skilled in building and leading teams that learn, adapt and deliver.
Possessing over a decade of experience, I have contributed to numerous inventions, engineering and business solutions across both academic and industrial sectors. I served a wide range of clients, from individuals and start-ups to world-leading OEMs. Skilled in the development, design and manufacturing of products. My projects predominantly focus on advanced materials, digitalisation, manufacturing, operations and sustainability.
As a Learning and Development Manager, I have the ability to distil complex concepts into easily digestible information. Additionally, as a keen writer, I am fascinated by conveying my thoughts and ideas in the written word. My forthcoming book, 'Hardware Ventures,' is poised to make a significant contribution to the start-up community in the domain.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
> IP and Technology Commercialisation
> Higher Education (EdTech)
> Aerospace and Automotive Industry (design and manufacturing operations)
> Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (composite and polymeric materials and their manufacturing processes)
> Building Material Industry
> Sustainability (lightweighting and advanced material recycling)
> Business Model Development
> Digital Strategy (sensors, IoT, asset health monitoring, AI & ML, digital twins)
> Business Strategy
> Financial Management
EDUCATION
Master of Business Administration (MBA) — Warwick Business School
During my time at the Business School, I delved into a diverse array of subjects including strategy, innovation, entrepreneurship, operations management, leadership, finance and accounting. The strategy and strategic marketing modules, in particular, captivated my interest and led to engaging discussions on a multitude of topics. Ultimately, I chose to specialise in Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, further refining my expertise. Moreover, building upon my passion for entrepreneurship, business development and strategy—I wrote a dissertation addressing challenges and highlighting opportunities in university spin-offs. The entire MBA experience proved to be a remarkable intellectual journey, which has made me a well-rounded and adept professional.
Diploma of Business — Harvard Business School
Gained skills, sharpened my business acumen and honed my leadership abilities by taking one of Harvard University's most recommended programs “Business Fundamentals” which combined Business Analytics, Economics for Managers and Financial Accounting.
Doctoral of Philosophy (PhD) of Engineering — The University of Sheffield
My PhD is one of my proudest achievements—I focused on building entirely new smart materials and sensors. Introduced the first-ever self-sensing and damage detection systems to woven-fabric carbon fibre-reinforced composite materials. The systems consist of an in-house manufactured sensor, data acquisition systems and data analysis software. The systems detect, locate and quantify damage in composite material structures. Formulated a statistically and mathematically sound algorithm that maps structural damage more accurately than Non-Distractive Testing (NDT) techniques. Also, designed and fabricated a variety of sensors and established data communication systems. Manufactured carbon fibre- and glass-fibre-reinforced composites using various fabrication techniques.
PROFESSIONAL WORK
Head of Strategy and Business Development | Lecturer — London Professional Training College
I am in charge of guiding the short-, medium- and long-term strategy of the College as well as handling the business development to help the business grow. My responsibilities include creating clear objectives for the future and forming relationships with other organisations to help us succeed. In addition to my duties in planning and business growth, I also teach at the College. As a lecturer, I prepare lesson plans, give lectures and interact with students, sharing my expertise in Financial Management to help them understand this important topic better.
In this role, I work closely with our Managing Director to make sure our strategies are on track. I regularly check how well we are doing in meeting our goals and if needed, adjust our plans. I am also responsible for making sure we stay within our budget. On the partnership side, I meet with potential business partners and negotiate deals that can benefit us both.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) Candidate—Warwick Business School
While at the Business School with 10+ years of working in research and technology expertise, I launched a software-as-a-service (SaaS) service helping companies organise and run R&D and innovation activities to maximise return on investment (RoI). I also formulated a technology commercialisation strategy for Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick to spin-out and license various technologies.
Founder of the Innovation Club — Warwick Business School
Founded the Club by building upon my strong entrepreneurship, business development, innovation and R&D expertise, wide industrial application knowledge and commercial awareness. The Club aimed to utilise a vast ecosystem at the University of Warwick, including Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) and Innovations Group. I also collaborated with local and national businesses to bring about true change and lasting impact.
University Teacher | Module Leader | Learning and Development (L&D) | Coach and Mentor — The University of Sheffield’s AMRC Training Centre
Crafted curricula designed to tackle skills shortages within the UK. By imparting vital knowledge in translational research, spanning areas such as lightweight materials, manufacturing, sustainability, Internet of Things (IoT) and health monitoring. I upskilled and reskilled workforces and enhanced the competitiveness of businesses. Over 300 UK-based companies have benefited from these initiatives, with their apprentices acquiring valuable expertise and contributing to the advancement of their respective organisations.
As a mentor and coach, I offered guidance and support to students while evaluating and marking their assessments and projects. By offering insightful, formative and constructive feedback, I played an instrumental part in fostering their academic growth and ensuring their success throughout each semester. My efforts contributed to a nurturing and enriching educational environment, ultimately empowering students to reach their full potential.
Project Lead | Business Development | Research Engineer — The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing
Negotiated, drafted and scoped both technical and commercial consulting contracts, and demonstrated expertise in leading client-facing consulting projects across a variety of sectors. These projects span supply chain management, manufacturing, digital transformation and sustainability initiatives. By employing a keen focus on delivering impactful and practical technical and commercial solutions, I consistently contributed to the success and growth of my client's businesses, driving meaningful change within their respective industries.
Diversified portfolios by implementing and acquiring advanced supply chain traceability capabilities. This included the integration of cutting-edge Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. These strategic enhancements significantly improved operational efficiency, enhanced real-time visibility and optimised asset management, thereby generating a substantial positive impact on the overall business performance.
Drove business development by identifying and capitalising on new opportunities to generate innovative projects and diversify revenue streams, ultimately driving the organisation's growth and bolstering its financial stability.
Defined performance and innovation KPIs aligning projects with strategy where I identified suitable metrics and evaluation methods.
Visiting Lecturer | Postdoctoral Fellow | Programme Manager — The University of Chester
Led an Innovate UK-funded project to develop an innovative Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system specifically designed for offshore wind turbine blades, revolutionising their maintenance and management. By employing a diverse range of sensors and sophisticated signal processing techniques, this pioneering system effectively assesses the health of wind turbines, even in the most challenging of working conditions. Crucially, this cutting-edge device equips wind farm operators with the ability to remotely monitor the health of their turbines. By adjusting power outputs accordingly, they can ensure optimal performance and maintain the overall integrity of the wind turbines. This solution not only enhances operational efficiency but also significantly contributes to the long-term sustainability and success of renewable energy projects.
Taught modules in Engineering Design and Mechanics of Materials for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. These modules were met with a remarkable 98% pass rate, reflecting the effectiveness of my teaching approach. The impact of these courses was further evidenced by the numerous students who, inspired by the material, opted to pursue graduation projects in order to deepen their understanding and enhance their skills within these specific areas.
Knowledge Transfer Partnership Associate | Knowledge Exchange Manager — The University of Sheffield
Through the implementation of process improvement techniques, I successfully enhanced lamination processes, leading to a significant reduction in waste. This optimisation was particularly impactful in the production lines of the NIO EP9 supercars, where I reduced pre-preg waste to a minimum. As a result, the University of Sheffield's industrial partner benefited from substantial annual savings of up to £72,000, demonstrating the value and effectiveness of my strategic improvements. Implemented and monitored financial and operation KPIs to identify the best choices for the business and allocate resources accordingly.
Graduate Teaching Assistant | Learning Designer — The University of Sheffield
Developed engaging laboratory learning environments across five different modules — micro-testing, physical and chemical testing, composite manufacturing and artefacts - within the Engineering Faculty. Incorporated a diverse array of teaching strategies, encompassing interactive activities, role-play, collaborative and individual tasks.
Conducted lab teaching sessions, evaluated students' assignments and offered constructive feedback, thereby facilitating students' personal and professional skill development.
Doctoral Researcher | Project Manager — The University of Sheffield
Developed cutting-edge, multifunctional carbon fibre composite materials, capable of detecting, locating and quantifying damage within their structure. This groundbreaking innovation marks the introduction of the first-ever health monitoring system for woven-fabric reinforced carbon fibre composites. The significant outcomes of this pioneering research have been disseminated in high-impact, prestigious academic journals, highlighting the profound impact on the industry and the potential for future advancements in material science.
Founder — Advanced Construction Solutions
Advanced Solutions, an engineering service provider, has established an impressive portfolio of clients comprising industry giants such as Shell, LUKOIL and Samsung Engineering. With a strong presence in the Middle East, the company has made a significant impact by offering its expertise to a multitude of landmark projects, encompassing shopping malls and oilfields alike. This extensive experience and commitment to excellence have cemented Advanced Solutions as a trusted partner in the engineering service sector.
Senior Business Development Manager | Technical Consultant — Fosroc ltd
Served construction businesses providing advice on advanced construction materials. Analysed customers, managed customer-business relations and supported customers during all phases of customer engagements. Competitively won commercial contracts of $1 million with large companies, such as Samsung Engineering and Lukoil.
Business Development Manager | Sales and Marketing — Mapei ltd
Helped Mapei Ltd to enter the middle east market, particularly Iraq, Jordan and Kuwait, and increased Mapei ltd market share by 5%. Increased sales by $6.3 million receiving a top performer award from Mapei for outstanding sales performance. Visited clients' sites, provided technical support and secured strategic commercial contracts, such as supplying concrete additives and concrete protection materials to Triarena Ltd, Shell Energy and Schlumberger.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
With over a decade of experience in academia and industry, I possess exceptional commercial awareness, strategic planning expertise and an influential network, raising over £1.35 million. My accomplishments include securing grant funds for aerospace and manufacturing technology development, recruiting researchers, obtaining international grants for knowledge exchange and boosting revenue by £1 million via collaborating with national and international SMEs on engineering solutions. As a skilled sales and team leader, I have secured £367,000 in material supply contracts with internationally renowned clients.
Throughout my career, I have built partnerships and alliances among UK academic and industrial institutions, leading to numerous high-impact projects. One such project involved developing a £2.5 million offshore wind turbine digital twin, while another focused on creating a secure Industrial IoT system with the potential to revolutionise the aerospace industry by replacing AS9100 standards. I have also established a closed-loop supply chain, securing £180,000 in funding to promote the circular economy in manufacturing. By pioneering multiscale virtual testing frameworks, I have reduced lab experiment costs and expedited the product-to-market process. My dedication to addressing environmental issues has led me to create cross-organisational teams to devise innovative solutions. Additionally, through implementing advanced IoT systems and machine monitoring technologies, I have optimised manufacturing processes and facilitated remote asset monitoring, resulting in significant cost savings.
I have strategically diversified previous employers’ portfolios, driving innovation in advanced materials, IoT and digital transformation, reducing costs and fostering collaboration with local, national and international businesses. I established an entirely new research theme.
In collaborating with and leading cross-sector teams, I have effectively managed resources and addressed challenges to successfully develop and present innovation projects, such as recycled carbon fibre applications.
As a former academic and researcher, I possess exceptional communication skills that have been crucial in driving the success of various projects. My ability to articulate complex ideas in a clear and concise manner enables me to effectively engage with clients and team members from diverse backgrounds. By fostering open and transparent dialogue, I ensure that all stakeholders are aligned in their understanding of objectives and expectations. This strong foundation in communication has not only facilitated seamless collaboration but has also contributed to the positive impact and outcomes of the projects I have undertaken.
My project and product management expertise is exemplified by my effective handling of knowledge exchange projects and delivering other nationally strategic projects. By setting strategic goals, performance metrics, KPIs and establishing milestones, I have cultivated robust relationships with stakeholders. This approach has led to considerable cost savings of £72,000 per annum and the acquisition of £200,000 in funding grants for implementing circular supply chains in the manufacturing industry.
Leveraging my entrepreneurial skills and innovative capabilities, I raised over £1.15 million for employers. By identifying emerging trends and foreseeing business opportunities, I have initiated numerous projects and facilitated the development of innovative products and services. As the founder of RnD Labs, I am committed to helping businesses of all sizes cultivate ground-breaking ideas, streamline innovation management, and optimise productivity and ROI in their growth efforts.
Helped Mapei Ltd entre the Middle East market capturing a market share of 5% in the first year and procurement contracts of up to $6.3 million to supply a wide range of materials including concrete additives, adhesives, grouts and epoxies.
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES
Credential of Readiness (CORe) - a 150-hour certification program provided by Harvard Business School Online in Financial Accounting, Business Analytics and Economics for Managers
Management in Engineering (Strategy and Leadership) - a 70-hour module provided as a part of a Micro-master degree in Manufacturing Principles by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Online (MITx). The module focused on learning by the case method. Various business aspects were taught in the module, such as organisation culture, business plan and financial tools
Supply Chain (Fundamentals) - a course offered by MIT Centre for Transports and Logistics. The course provided a fundamental understanding of supply chain systems, strategies, supply and demand forecasting methods and inventory management
Supply Chain (Capacity Analysis) - an 80-hour module provided as a part of a Micro-master degree in Manufacturing Principles by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Online (MITx). The module focused on planning, modelling, and process analysis of supply chains. It also touched upon various production planning strategies, such as aggregate production planning under uncertainty and flexible planning. Supply chain configurations and network designs were presented thoroughly in the module
Manufacturing Systems - the course focused on randomness and variations in manufacturing systems. Various manufacturing concepts such as Toyota Production System (TPS), Kanban, and adaptive and digital manufacturing principles were introduced
Lean Six Sigman - A certificate from Linkedin Learning devoted to improvement in processes and efficiency through the design, measure, analysis, improve and control (DMAIC) phases. Lean Six Sigma decreases defects and mistakes, finds and removes obstacles, and improves overall quality output.
Python Data Science Toolbox 1 and Toolbox 2 - a certificate provided by DataCamp. A comprehensive understanding of coding strategies and developing hands-on skills through coding tasks and competitions
Python Object Oriented Programming - a certificate provided by DataCamp. The course equipped learners with advanced python coding skills through the use of its advanced tools, such as classes, inheritance, polymorphism and re-use and optimise codes
Project Management - a certificate provided by LinkedIn Learning aimed to master project management methodologies, including waterfall and agile project management.
Product Management - a certificate provided by LinkedIn Learning concentrated on phases of product development (research, plan, build, release, refind and retire phases) and product lifecycle management
COMPETENCIES
Research and Development. With over 10 years of experience in research and development (R&D) within industry and academia, I have gained expertise in a variety of research types, such as fundamental, applied, descriptive, analytical, quantitative and qualitative. I have successfully managed numerous research projects, delivering more than 50 results that span from fundamental deep research studies to practical applications. My skills in everyday R&D methods, like incremental and lean approaches, have consistently helped drive innovation and make the best use of resources.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Possessing a wealth of experience in open innovation, jobs-to-be-done and design thinking, as well as other innovative methodologies, I have crafted both incremental and disruptive solutions to address a wide range of challenges across various industries. My innovative approach has generated over £5 million in revenue for employers, launched several key projects, and led to the successful establishment of several business ventures.
Financial and Investment. My financial and accounting capabilities developed during my time at Harvard Business School and Warwick Business School where I learnt to interpret financial statements and model financial projections. During my MBA, I delved deeper into financial management and gained skills in capital structure, cost of capital and valuation. I also honed my entrepreneurial finance skills, learning ways to structure a venture for finance from a variety of sources, such as angels and venture capitalists (VCs) among other funding instruments. I became adept at evaluating high-growth, high-potential start-ups as well as sourcing deals, structuring a deal, term sheet and merger and acquisition (M&A).
Technology. Holding extensive expertise in cutting-edge technologies, including sensors, IoT, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. My deep understanding of IoT devices stems from my doctoral research and two subsequent postdoctoral endeavours, during which I developed, designed and manufactured sensors and constructed devices to monitor the health of a wide range of engineering structures.
Communication. In my roles, I have effectively conveyed complex information to over 400 colleagues and students, resulting in a 30% improvement in project success rates and student learning experiences. My expertise in writing, presentations, lecturing and module development has contributed to 10+ publications, 7 successful bids, and a 25% increase in industry visibility and recognition.
Problem-Solving. I love solving real-world problems, it is so satisfying. I approach problems with the right attitude. I firmly believe that “Every problem has a solution —- and I will find it.”
Leadership and Management. As a skilled leader, I embrace individual uniqueness while steering businesses with tactical strategies and operating processes. By setting targets and monitoring KPIs, I have achieved a 20% increase in efficiency. Fostering strong relationships and ensuring effective goal execution, my efforts have led to a 15% growth in customer satisfaction.
Finance and Accounting. Identify the most suitable accounting methods for a business. Read and extract useful information from different financial statements, such as Trial Balance, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Statement of Cash Flow and proforma. Help companies close accounts and taxes, especially R&D taxes.
Coaching. Help my team members sharpen their skills and strengthen their confidence. I use inquiry, listening and feedback to support members in building capabilities.
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS
Photographer. Novice photographer capturing moments and emotions through the lens
Travelling. Certified backpacker, loves exploring landscapes and immersing in diverse cultures
Cycling. Love pedalling in the British countryside enjoying the scenic landscapes and experiencing the thrill of open roads
Blogging. Love sharing thoughts, experiences and expertise with others