Our People
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Dr Mark SwiftCTO, WMG centre HVM Catapult Head of SME Programmes What is your role? I lead WMG’s initiatives focused on helping SMEs grow through research-led innovation and developing new skills. How can you help manufacturing? I have experience of bringing innovative research to market, running knowledge transfer programmes and helping to grow small businesses. My background in manufacturing systems, previously working for International Paper, Hasbro and BMW UK helps me do this. How can I contact you? The best way to contact Mark is via wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk. |
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Dr Kylash MakenjiPrincipal Engineer What is your role? I support a great team of industry and academic experts, who work closely with Businesses, to identify their challenges and help them to address them. How can you help manufacturing? I have 20 years of direct experience with industry and 15 years indirectly through the university, we support manufacturing through academic excellence and industry relevance. What problems do you like solving? I enjoy coming up with solutions to challenges in manufacturing, such as increasing productivity or waste elimination or reuse of them. My background is in plastic materials, they have been demonised recently in the world press, my thoughts are that plastic materials are not the issue, but on how we as a species interact with these materials and that we should be using them in a much smarter way. How can I contact you? The best way to contact Kylash is by email, or phone (07545 967897) wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Mark Godfrey-VallancePrincipal Engineer Mark.Godfrey-Vallance@warwick.ac.uk What is your role? I am the Principal Engineer for WMG-SME Business Transformation, working with companies to help understand how WMG can help them grow and prosper. I have over 20 years of experience in leading and implementing business transformation in large OEM and SME businesses. The WMG Business Transformation team are all highly experienced, knowledgeable and motivated practitioners who help and guide companies to innovate and achieve their goals. How can you help manufacturing? In the Business Transformation team, we use a combination of new innovative manufacturing processes combined with tried and tested tools, methods and skills to identify QCD opportunities within a business. Innovation, or doing something differently, has many different levels, but we ensure that our implementations and innovations are based on practical and achievable outcomes for the clients. What problems do you like solving? I see a manufacturing factory as a big machine. All the different parts and units have to mesh together to create a high-performance machine that does what it is designed to do. I am passionate about making things work well, be the best they can be and do it time after time. As a problem solver, I love to find out what stops things being great and fixing them. How can I contact you? My E-Mail is the best way to contact me: wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Nasar JockeyPrincipal Engineer What is your role? I am leading a team of talented Innovation Managers and Technology Engineers enabling SMEs speed up their digitalisation journey through cost effective tailored technology work packages to augment their competitiveness. My core experience has been within Advanced Manufacturing Engineering across Automotive, Aerospace and Nuclear sector delivering innovative products, technologies and facilities working on driving cultural change from factory floor to boardroom level. I am trained and experienced in continuous improvement methodologies to help manufacturers achieve bottom-line improvements. How can you help manufacturing? The Digital Manufacturing Team is made up of varied skillsets like Data Analytics; Machine Learning; Low-Cost Instrumentation and IIoT; Asset Performance Management tools; Digital Twin Simulation and Optimisation; Automation and Robotics to bring the physical world closer to the digital world to enjoy the benefits of higher Productivity moving closer to a Smart Factory. What problems do you like solving? I like to solve problems where I can eliminate the waste out of the system and unlock the Hidden factory for the manufacturer using a mix of Continuous Improvement and Digital Manufacturing tools. How can I contact you? Please contact me via my email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Nicola KirkleyHead of Business Development / Innovation Manager |
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Carl WalmsleyProject Manager What is your role? I am a Project Manager for the SME group and ensure efficient, compliant, and precise delivery of our collaborative projects to enable all parties to have a good experience of working with us How can you help manufacturing? I have over 30 years of experience working in small engineering companies through to large multi-national organisations. Much of my experience is in automotive product development, which has enabled me to gain a broad knowledge of many new and existing manufacturing techniques What problems do you like solving? I thrive on the challenge of overcoming any issue, by building strong teams with a wide range of skills and being clear on an aligned desired outcome. Due to my experience in automotive, I have a particular interest in technologies which involve weight reduction compared to conventional methods. How can I contact you? Email: wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Dr Paul MilneProject Manager How can you help manufacturing? I help companies get value from science and technology to overcome the challenges of today and to enable a more productive and competitive tomorrow. I have been a director, technical leader, consultant and have years of experience delivering successful research, development and innovation projects for companies large and small. In my current role helping SMEs, I like to understand what are your challenges and remove blockers, finding practical ways to solve them. Living in a world of every increasing challenges I am motivated to help get the best from technology and innovative thinking to make a real and lasting change and build a more sustainable future. What problems do you like solving? Favourite topics are; sustainability, polymers/plastics, optics, sensors, digital technology and the environment. I like solving all problems- considering all options high and low tech, from finding quick wins and moving at pace to get success in early, to building long term strategies and plans to reach bold and ambitious objectives. - we can and do help. How can I contact you? The best way to contact Paul is via email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk or phone - 024 76 575434 |
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Mita PanchalProject Officer What is your role? My role is to provide support to the Digital Innovation for Manufacturing (DI4M) Project within the team. I have over 16 years' experience of delivering business support to SMEs through Government and European Union-funded projects. Previously providing support through various ERDF projects and at WMG the Product Innovation Accelerator and the Digital Innovation for Manufacturing projects. How can I contact you? The best way to contact Mita is via email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk or phone - 024 7657 4299. |
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Meri KazaziProject Officer / Internship Programme Manager What is your role? My role is to manage the SME Group Internship Programme and delivery of the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships within the team. How can you help manufacturing? I support programmes that enable young people to enhance their skills and contribute to the manufacturing industry. Through our programmes, we support companies to solve their business challenges with expert supervision from our team. What problems do you like solving? I like to make people’s lives easier. By supporting clients, I help reduce the burden of planning and organising giving them more time to do what they do best. How can I contact you? The best way to contact Meri is via email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk or phone - 024 765 24871. |
Katy WilsonProgramme Administrator What is your role? My role is to provide support to the Digital Innovation for Manufacturing (DI4M) Project and the Internship Programme. What problems do you like solving? I like being a problem solver, to be able to help others find the information and answers they need. How can I contact you? Email - wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk, LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-wilson-9974521b8/ |
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Charlie WardMarketing Officer What is your role? I am the main point of contact for marketing, social media, and events for the SME Team. How can you help manufacturing? The team here have a huge amount of expertise and I want manufacturing SMEs to know what support we can offer them. It's great working with a diverse department that is helping local companies overcome challenges. What problems do you like solving? I like introducing people to each other. When I hear someone has an issue or a challenge - there is always some I know who could help! How can I contact you? The best way to contact Charlie is by email – wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Russ NobleBusiness Development Manager What is your role? I am a Business Development Manager in the SME team at WMG. My role is to identify, engage and support UK manufacturing businesses (SMEs) with a range of business and technical offerings from the WMG group. These offerings from WMG can cover Materials & Manufacturing, Digitally Enhanced Manufacturing, Intelligent Vehicles and Transport Electrification. How can you help manufacturing? My role is to engage with manufacturing businesses to understand their specific challenges and these may include solving existing manufacturing issues, enhancing productivity, developing new products, processes, customers and markets. Against these specific manufacturing challenges, I work with wider WMG experts to derive a solution or ‘project’ together with the appropriate delivery mechanism and work jointly with the business to solve the challenge. What problems do you like solving? I want to work with manufacturing businesses on their industry-led and business validated challenges. I want to solve challenges which can be implemented within the business and ultimately deliver tangible benefits to the business. How can I contact you? The best way to contact Russ is via email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk or phone - 07791 463026 |
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Scott CrowtherInnovation Manager What is your role? I assist SMEs to apply for the government's Knowledge Transfer Partnerships scheme. How can you help manufacturing? By helping them benefit from the expertise and equipment within the University. What problems do you like solving? I like looking at the big picture; so solving problems with strategic thinking and long-term planning. How can I contact you? The best way to contact Scott is via email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Simon BroomeInnovation Manager / Business Development / Knowledge Transfer Partnerships What is your role? I facilitate the delivery of the KTP programme. How can I contact you? The best way to contact Simon is by phone 024 76 50036 or email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Onur ErenInnovation Manager What is your role? I am an Innovation Manager within the SME Group at WMG. How can you help manufacturing? I am an ambitious Technologist with a strong academic background and experience in Digital Manufacturing. As well as having a background in Computer Science, I am also a Master Black Belt Lean & Six Sigma practitioner and have a proven track record of successful Lean deployments in multi-site, multi-cultural environments, defining and leading improvement strategies within complex organisations. What problems do you like solving? Operational Excellence, Sustainability, Productivity, Competitiveness, Industry 4 and Digital Transformation How can I contact you? The best way to contact Onur is via email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk, LinkedIn or Twitter. |
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Dr Paul LansdellInnovation Manager What is your role? I am the metallurgist in the metals and materials team, with over 40 years of industrial experience in a wide range of manufacturing activities. How can you help manufacturing? By advising on materials to be used for particular applications and structuring manufacturing routes or processes to achieve the final required product. In addition to this, troubleshooting, when products are not fit for purpose or processes and are not providing the expected properties in the final product. What problems do you like solving? I like investigating field failures to understand why a product or component has failed in service. How can I contact you? The best way to contact Paul is by email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Dr Liz McArdleInnovation Manager What is your role? I am an Innovation Manager working with companies to improve their innovation capability. Innovation can be new to the company or absolute. How can you help manufacturing? I primarily work with manufacturers to help them understand how they deliver products to their customer and how they could use technology and know-how to improve this delivery in terms of time, cost, and performance. What problems do you like solving? I like ones that prevent a company from reaching its potential through a lack of sustainable systems - it's rewarding to solve. How can I contact you? The best way to contact Liz is via email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Dr David Ross-PinnockInnovation Manager What is your role? I help SME manufacturers make process improvements and develop their supply chains to make more in Britain. My role is to understand the challenges of manufacturing, and work with the Business Transformation team to turn them into opportunities through the adoption of new approaches and technologies. How can you help manufacturing? I specialise in Metrology and Digital Engineering, so I often look at how data can be captured, understood, used, and reused. I have experience of working with manufacturers on innovation projects from concept to direct process improvements. I’ve worked in a production environment, so I empathise with those working on the factory floor. What problems do you like solving? It’s rewarding to provide people with different perspectives and possibilities. Problems can be recurring, and they usually have friends - I like reusable and practical solutions. How can I contact you? The best way to contact David is by email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Dr David NormanTechnology Transfer Engineer What is your role? I am an Electronic Systems Engineer with over 20 years' experience working in both industry and academia. I have worked in Germany on the latest in-home entertainment systems and sensor electronics and in the UK on robotics, actuation controllers, LED lighting, EMC compliance and CE marking. How can you help manufacturing? I can help with electronic design and manufacture. From the concept idea through to cash converted I use digital manufacturing as well as established techniques to provide solutions and solve issues. What problems do you like solving? Anything electronic – concept design, PCB layout, EMC compliance, CE marking, manufacturing and production line support problems. How can I contact you? The best way to contact Dave is via email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Dr Daniel PeavoyInnovation Manager What is your role? I support businesses in implementing digital technologies to improve the efficiency of manufacturing. How can you help manufacturing? We’ve developed a Manufacturing Information Platform to integrate data from sensors monitoring processes with business planning systems to give a real-time view of manufacturing performance. What problems do you like solving? I like using data to understand the sources of inefficiency or quality issues and working with businesses to improve their processes. How can I contact you? The best way to contact Dan is via email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Neil JeffreeInnovation Manager What is your role? I am an experienced Product Designer with an MA Design degree from Staffordshire University. I have designed numerous homeware products, including merchandise for the Jamie Oliver brand. How can you help manufacturing? I am experienced in a variety of CAD software systems and the utilisation of numerous rapid prototyping facilities. Having had my own Product Design and Development consultancy, working for globally recognised brands - Lakeland Ltd, Wedgewood, Maxwell & Williams, I can advise on manufacturing processes and materials, and assist with the development of a technically challenging product. What problems do you like solving? Since I joined WMG in 2019, I've enjoyed gained further experience solving problems with different CAD and ALM technologies, as well as creating and delivering a practical workshop to industry. How can I contact you? The best way to contact Neil is via email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Steve NorgroveInnovation Manager wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Helena SimmondsInnovation Manager wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk Check out my video bio: https://vimeo.com/447461986 |
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Ian ButterworthTechnology Transfer Engineer What is your role? I am a technology transfer engineer within the SME’s materials and manufacturing delivery team. How can you help manufacturing? I am a mechanical engineer with over 20 years of experience in manufacturing, mechanical testing, motorsport, structural materials and design for application. Having worked in both industry and academia I can see how both can be linked together to meet mural goals and targets. What problems do you like solving? I like to go for the problems that others say will be difficult, as my training as a tool maker and working in motorsport has allowed me to learn how to get out of a problems especially the unforeseen. I also like to reverse engineer problems and detach variables to find out where the problem lies at a fundamental level. How can I contact you? By email: wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Julian SwiestowskiTechnology Transfer Engineer What is your role? I am a Technology Transfer Engineer within the WMG SME Team. I specialise in electronics and embedded firmware, with over 30 years of experience designing and applying my expertise in the industry. Some examples of sectors I have worked in include industrial controls, factory automation, industrial and scientific lasers, automotive (including truck and boat) security. My speciality disciplines include analogue, digital, RF, power, battery technologies, solid-state lasers, embedded control, sensors, interfacing, simulation, PCB design and layout, and EMC and type approvals. How can you help manufacturing? I am keen to support the local industry and keep resources, capability, and talent within the UK. I want to use my knowledge of electronics and sensors, and be able to complement existing production facilities and extract process data for evaluation and performance tuning. What problems do you like solving? I enjoy applying electronics and firmware solutions to traditional and new processes, to produce a real impact on productivity, profitability, and innovation in manufacturing. How can I contact you? The best way to contact Julian is via email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk , phone (02476 151084 or 07821 850881) or via LinkedIn. |
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Fernando MurguiaTechnology Transfer Engineer What is your role? Product designer and engineer specialised in product development and value creation How can you help manufacturing? Product development and optimisation with an innovation-driven approach by using state-of-the-art technologies such as visualisation, simulation, 3D modelling and rapid prototyping. What problems do you like solving?
How can I contact you? wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-fernando-murgu%C3%ADa-02464977/ |
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Ioan LutasInnovation Manager What is your role? I like to think of myself as bringing a new perspective into automation, combining experience with the right amount of creativity. I enjoy working part of teams where ideas emerge and result in something unimaginable to the individual, an outcome from which small and medium enterprises are benefiting the most. How can you help manufacturing? The way Manufacturing evolved in the last century, it would probably require a new name like Autofacturing. I strongly believe as the next step of Industrial Revolution is the increased robot-human interaction, while the safety standards reach higher level of general trust, a journey which I have happily signed up for. What problems do you like solving? I am stubborn in identifying waste and reuse in any form or shape, finding the obvious improvement, so often overseen but critical for the long-term productivity and welfare. How can I contact you? Supposing we don't find you first, this is my email: wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
Veer AngadiTechnology Transfer Engineer wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Marfil Castillo DuenasEngineer What is your role? I am an Engineer with the WMG SME Team. I have experience in robotics, CAD and software so I cover a lot of aspects of engineering from design to prototype. How can you help manufacturing? I have a technical degree in Computer-Aided Manufacturing, a Bachelors on Mechatronics Engineering and my MSc in Smart Connected Autonomous Vehicles. I am keen on using all the knowledge I have to help SMEs to reach their goals and innovate their business. What problems do you like solving? I am keen on creating digital manufacturing solutions and use new technologies to make smarter business decisions. I like to design, build, program and test. How can I contact you? By email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Laura DowneyTechnology Transfer Engineer What is your role? I am a technology transfer engineer within the materials and manufacturing team of the SME group How can you help manufacturing? I can assist SME’s with their metallurgy and sustainability challenges through R&D projects. What problems do you like solving? I enjoy investigating manufacturing and performance failures and finding solutions to eliminate or reduce the risk of a future failure. I also enjoy taking the current product and working with manufacturers to actively look for improvements that make the product and its manufacturing process, more robust, increase its field life-time and its environmental sustainability. How can I contact you? Via email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Jack DavisEngineer What is your role? I am an Engineer working in the Materials and Manufacture delivery team. I assist my team and SMEs with CAD, simulation and engineering design. How can you help manufacturing? I can help with mechanical, thermal and fluid flow problems in design and manufacture. I can use simulation tools to give manufacturers insights into their designs. What problems do you like solving? I enjoy using simulation tools such as CFD and FEA to improve the design process as well as designing for sustainable use. I am also interested in helping SMEs apply new technologies or improve old ones! How can I contact you? By email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Shadman RafidEngineer What is your role? I am a young Engineer within the SME group working mainly on projects involving digital transformation. I love solving challenging problems with creative solutions using the latest technologies available. How can you help manufacturing? Through the use of various sensors and collecting crucial data, I want to analyse issues and challenges the SMEs face today and derive solutions based on automation and predictability. What problems do you like solving? I enjoy solving problems involving measurement and inspection. This allows me to explore multiple ways to integrate various sensors and create a unique solution to each challenge! How can I contact you? Via Email: wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadman-rafid-163b40149 |
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Kieran BatchelorTechnology Transfer Engineer What is your role? I am an engineer within the SME Group, my role is to apply and develop my skills and knowledge to provide help to SME’s, through the delivery of engineering solutions to a variety of challenges. Helping to improving their productivity and awareness of industry technology. How can you help manufacturing? I can help manufacturing by applying my knowledge and experience in product development and engineering design, as well as prototyping and testing. To create products that meet the needs of the user in a cost effective, sustainable and innovative way. What problems do you like solving? I enjoy solving problems that improve user experience, reduce environmental impact and help to optimise performance. I enjoy the process of trying to understand and define product requirements and create solutions that achieve these requirements. How can I contact you? Email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
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Phil GibbonsMechanical Technician What is your role? I am a Technical Engineer. How can you help manufacturing? I can help Manufacturing by solving problems and aiding product design by advising on and assisting with additive layer technologies. What problems do you like solving? I like solving design problems with ALM Technologies in order for the client to gain the best product for market. How can I contact you? The best way to contact Phil is via email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk or phone 07375 300923. |
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Renee CrouchReceptionist wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk |
