Advisory Board

Mike Bassett graduated from Bristol University in 1993, where he studied Mechanical Engineering. He then studied for a PhD at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST,) focusing on the thermodynamic modelling of internal combustion engines.

Mike joined Lotus Engineering in 2000, where he worked in the Software Development Department, specializing in the modelling of internal combustion engine performance and drive-cycle simulation of conventional and hybrid vehicles. He moved to MAHLE Powertrain in 2007 to join the Performance Analysis Group.

Mike is currently Chief Engineer in the Research and Advanced Engineering Group, where he is responsible for leading MAHLE Powertrain’s research activities in the UK, where there is a strong focus on new technology and capabilities for electrified mobility.

Alex Tylee is an engineering and business consultant. His mission at Tylee Ltd is to enable companies working in the future mobility space (including electric vehicles) to access the help and support they need, whether that is business operations, technical support or they need investment. The aim is to have a one stop shop that can accelerate innovative engineering businesses. Alex has the knowledge and experience of what is needed to take an engineering start-up, finance it and grow it into a multi-national business.

Prior to founding Tylee Ltd, Alex founded the engineering consultancy Drive System Design (or DSD) in 2007. DSD initially focussed on transmission and driveline systems for automotive, later adding electric motors and power electronics expertise, allowing the design and development of full electric powertrains. Alex started in the business as Technical Director before moving over to the operational side of the business, running major projects and the finance department. During this time, Alex also launched a spin out company Evolute Drives, with the aim to market an innovative multiple speed electric vehicle powertrain.

Before DSD, Alex worked as an engineering consultant at Ricardo in the role of Principal Engineer in transmission system analysis. He also worked at Romax Technology as Engineering Service Manager and helped to grow the consultancy side of that business. He is considered a technical specialist in the design and analysis of geared systems for automotive and other industries.

Mr Campbell is responsible for overseeing Electroflight’s overall technical strategy and new product development. His role ensures Electroflight remain at the forefront of the aviation electrification sector and continue to expand into new areas of innovation in new markets around the world.

Douglas has forged a reputation as one of the automotive and motorsport industries’ leading experts in the field of energy storage, having developed KERS for Formula 1 teams, battery systems for several high-profile automotive programs and for the FIA Formula E race series. His strong experience and expertise have transferred over to aviation and are ensuring Electroflight grow to the next level of commercial growth and technical innovation.

A chemical engineer by education, Richard Clark is the Global Lead for Energy Storage at Morgan Advanced Materials, (LSE: MGAM), a leading global carbon and ceramics manufacturer which has been directly involved in the lithium-ion battery industry since 2000.

Richard has worked on many of Morgan’s recent technological developments in carbon and ceramics, including anode materials, separators and thermal runaway propagation prevention and mitigation systems for lithium ion-batteries.

Morgan’s latest development in the lithium-ion space is in the area of solid state electrolytes for which several patent applications are in process, with Richard leading business development activities as well as being a named co-inventor. He has been based in England, Korea, China and currently U.S.A.

Shmuel is a leading international expert in the business of Power Sources, Energy storage and EV’s. Prior to founding the company, Shmuel held positions as a power sources, engineering and quality control team manager for over 20 years. Shmuel holds a BSc. in mechanical engineering from Tel-Aviv University and an MBA in quality control and reliability engineering from the Technion Institute in Haifa, as well as an Electronic Technician’s diploma.

Robert (Bob) L. Galyen, age 65, is recognized as one of the top executives in the battery energy storage world and science/engineering-based communities.  He is a highly sought-after public speaker as a subject matter expert.  His positions as CTO of CATL (the world’s largest battery manufacturer), Chairman of SAE International Battery Standards Steering Committee, SAE Fellow, Chairman Emeritus and CTO of NAATbatt International, provides him a unique leadership perspective in the global battery industry.  His degrees in chemistry and biology, along with decades of engineering experience and executive roles, provides him a unique view in a leadership or consulting role in cross functional technology areas. He has patents, publications and participates on multiple BOD’s and TAB’s.  The 44 years’ international work experience has given him a visionary perspective on worldwide business, making him uniquely qualified as a global energy storage and scientific/engineering community thought leader.  Bob is married with 3 children and 7 grandchildren.

Stephen Gifford joined the Faraday Institution in March 2019. His focus is on making the organisation the go-to place for insights into the technological, economic and social benefits of batteries and electrical energy storage. He is developing techno-economic models of supply, demand and cost, covering both global and the UK markets.

Stephen has over 25 years of economics experience, including as the Chief Economist at Grant Thornton, the Director of Economics at the CBI and as a senior economist at KPMG, Oxford Economics and the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit. Prior to joining the Faraday Institution, Stephen was Head of Economic Regulation at the Civil Aviation Authority, where he focused on the regulation of Heathrow and Gatwick airports, and the development of the new runway at Heathrow. Stephen is currently a Commissioner in the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales.

Stephen brings particular skills and expertise in economic policy, transport economics, infrastructure, market assessment and the role of the public sector. He has a first-class degree in Economics from the University of Liverpool and a MSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics from the London School of Economics.

David Greenwood is Director for Industrial Engagement, and CEO of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult at WMG.

Previously, David established and led the Energy Directorate at WMG where he led a team of over 200 researchers and engineers. Projects spanned a number of fields, including cars, trucks, boats, off highway machinery, aircraft and motorcycles. His research spans batteries, electric motors, power electronics, and the integration and control of these for propulsion and energy applications.

David moved into academia after 20 years in industry latterly as Head of Hybrid and Electric Systems for engineering consultancy Ricardo UK Ltd.

Professor Greenwood holds advisory and board positions for the Advanced Propulsion Centre, Innovate UK (Faraday Challenge and IDP), and the Faraday Institution. He is head of the Advanced Propulsion Centre’s Electrical Energy Storage Spoke.

Started automotive industry career in 1975 with Jaguar Cars in Coventry as a sponsored student-apprentice with the company while studying for mechanical Engineering degree at Lanchester Polytechnic (now Coventry University). Joined the Vehicle Research department of Product Engineering after graduation in 1979, and went on to develop the team that was responsible for the noise and vibration refinement of the all-new AJ6 engine and the XJ40 car – Jaguar’s first all-new vehicle in 30 years.

Subsequently spent significant time working in Far East and USA in technical and managerial consulting roles, mainly focused on NVH (Noise Vibration & Harshness) before diversifying into powertrain and other vehicle technologies, bringing me into contact with engineering teams for a wide range of mobility products.

Joining Tata Motors European Technical Centre in 2008, I spent 3 years based in Pune, India running the NVH team, later taking lead role as Programme Chief Engineer for several new vehicle projects delivered for Tata Motors based from the European Technical Centre at University of Warwick.

Now responsible for leading strategy and engineering development of low-carbon powertrain technologies (ICE/xEV) and early-stage vehicle attribute delivery for Tata Motors future passenger car product portfolio.

Peter B. Littlewood is Professor of Physics at the University of Chicago. He served as the 13th Director of the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, after having served as the associate laboratory director of its Physical Sciences and Engineering directorate. He spent the previous 14 years at the University of Cambridge, where he last served as the head of the Cavendish Laboratory and the Department of Physics. Littlewood is internationally recognized for his research in a number of areas, including superconductivity, semiconductor optics, and magnetic materials. Littlewood holds a bachelor’s degree in natural sciences (physics) and a doctorate in physics, both from the University of Cambridge.

Isobel Sheldon OBE is Chief Strategy Officer at Britishvolt, responsible for overall business, manufacturing, technology and customer strategy. Isobel joined Britishvolt from her role as Business Development Director at UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC).

Isobel is a seasoned and highly experienced business executive, technical leader and entrepreneur in leading edge transportation technology, specialist expertise in batterytechnology. She is a first class relationship builder across C Suite, Director and Senior Manager level stakeholders in international environments with extensive history and solid track record of working with International clients, customers and government/non-government organisations in European, North and South American and Asian business environments. Isobel is skilled at identification of value propositions, market opportunities, investment opportunities, product portfolio development, route to market, strategic initiatives and fund raising particular specialities in addition to developing business plans, inward investment proposals and building strategic supply chains

Isobel has lived and breathed clean tech for the majority of her career delivering ground breaking first to market technical innovations from within small start ups and semi-government institutions to business turnaround within divisions of publicly listed corporations.

Philippa is a Chartered Engineer who thrives on working with a wide range of stakeholders from government, industry and academia to create visionary solutions, challenging existing silos between the sectors.

Previously Head of Transport and Manufacturing at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers for six years, Philippa has a great understanding of the challenges facing transport and manufacturing both domestically and internationally.

With experience from the automotive, aerospace and defence sectors Philippa believes the APC can drive investment that we need to equip the UK with the right capability and technology to be at the forefront of pulling innovative low carbon propulsion solutions through to fruition, accelerating economic return.

Dirk Spiers is the CEO of Spiers New Technologies (SNT). He is a pioneer and leader in the repair, remanufacturing and refurbishment of advanced battery packs, as well as the manufacturing of Energy Storage Systems (ESS) with new or second life battery modules and cells. His experience in reman, battery, solar and wind technologies puts him at the forefront of developing programs to manage the life cycle battery packs and using battery storage systems with renewable energy sources. SNT has branches in the USA and Europe.  It handles approx 2000 packs per month for the leading OEM’s.

Dr Dee Strand is a Senior Scientist at Wildcat Discovery Technologies. Dr. Strand has over twenty years of experience in materials research, development, and commercialisation, primarily in the areas of energy storage and electronic applications.

Prior to joining Wildcat in 2013, Dr Strand served as a Research Fellow at Dow Chemical, where she was the technical lead in Dow Energy Materials, as well as the Principal Investigator on external research programs with universities and national labs on battery materials. Dr Strand also has extensive experience in patent analysis and technical due diligence of new technologies.

Dr Strand completed her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, under the supervision of Professor John Schrag. Her Ph.D. research focused on rheology and birefringence of polymeric solutions. Dr Strand also holds a Master of Science degree in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from North Dakota State University.

Dr. John Warner is a sought after and recognized battery industry expert, speaker, author and an experienced sales, business development, strategic marketing, and product management executive with over 30 years in the automotive and battery industries. Currently, Dr. Warner serves as Chief Customer Officer for American Battery Solutions and as Founder and President at Warner Energy Consulting LLC. Previously Dr. Warner served in executive sales and marketing leadership positions with EnerDel, XALT Energy, Magna Steyr Battery Systems and Boston-Power as well as spending more than 13 years with General Motors. In addition, he serves as Chairman of the industry trade group NAATBatt International and sits on several SAE battery committees. Dr. Warner published his first book “The Handbook of Lithium-Ion Battery Pack Design” in 2015 and his second book, “Lithium-Ion Chemistries: A Primer” in published in May 2019.