WMG News - Latest news from WMG

WMG Professor of Cyber Security Engineering and Director of Research in Cyber Security Carsten Maple has been appointed as Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (North America) for the University of Warwick.

In his new role, Carsten will work closely with Professor Mike Shipman, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International), to extend and deepen the relationships with the University’s partners in North America, and to pursue opportunities for funding, student mobility, and research and teaching collaboration.

Professor Maple explained: “I am passionate about the international agenda having been a visiting professor at four institutions overseas, and participated in three government-sponsored missions to the United States. I am delighted to be undertaking this important role.”

Commenting on the new role, Professor Chris Ennew, University of Warwick Provost, said:

“Carsten’s profile, skills and experience make him the ideal person to undertake this crucial role to develop University-level strategic partnerships in North America. The appointment of Carsten to the role of Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for North America is a key step towards delivery of the University’s Internationalisation Strategy.”

Professor Simon Swain, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement) said: “Carsten’s appointment is an enormous boost to the International team and we are all looking forward to working with him on our hugely ambitious goals in North America.”

Professor Maple is a co-lead of the Cyber Security GRP and the Principal Investigator of the NCSC-EPSRC Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research at the University and the Transport & Mobility lead of the PETRAS National Centre of Excellence for IoT Systems Cybersecurity. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers has provided evidence and advice to governments and organisations across the world, including being a high-level scientific advisor for cyber security to the European Commission. He is a member of various national and international boards and expert groups, is Immediate Past Chair of the Council of Professors and Heads of Computing in the UK and a fellow of the Alan Turing Institute.

Professor Maple will manage this new role alongside his current research responsibilities within WMG.

As part of an Australian delegation’s visit to the UK, Victorian Minister for Roads, Road Safety and Transport Accident Commission (TAC), The Hon Jaala Pulford MP, was welcomed to WMG, University of Warwick on Monday 29th July.

The delegation, including members of the Transport Accident Commission and the Victoria Police, are considering types of technology and innovation to pursue across vehicle, enforcement and infrastructure in the development of its Towards Zero post 2020 strategy.

Visitors explored international best practice and innovation in the context of the project, with the initiative aiming to reduce serious road trauma through innovative transport systems.

Greeted by Professor David Mullins, Interim Head of Department at WMG, the Minister took a tour around WMG’s world-class facilities, including its International Manufacturing Centre (IMC), Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) and newly-opened National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC).

Appointed Minister for Roads, Road Safety and Transport Accident Commission in December 2018, The Hon Jaala Pulford MP is now looking at how different jurisdictions are meeting the road safety leadership challenge and, commenting on today’s visit to WMG, she said:

“We’ve had an invaluable visit to WMG today. There’s a great energy to the partnership between industry and research as we all strive to gain the benefits of connection and automation to safety and congestion management. WMG has given us much to reflect on.”

The Victorian Towards Zero 2016 - 2020 Strategy and Action Plan maps out a plan for Victorian road safety partners to work towards a 20% reduction in deaths and 15% reduction in serious injuries in five years. Professor David Mullins, Interim Head of Department at WMG added:

“It was a pleasure to welcome the Victorian Minister and her delegation to WMG. This provided an opportunity for us to showcase the pioneering work we are doing. We were able to highlight our cutting-edge technology and the infrastructure we’ve built here to successfully run our portfolio of transport-based projects and initiatives.

“This visit was about gathering intelligence to explore innovative technologies and strategies that can reduce the risk of serious road trauma. Being involved in such an important activity and sharing WMG’s expertise and facilities with the world is extremely important.”

Professor David Mullins, Interim Head of Department (at WMG), was pleased to welcome His Excellency Datuk Mohamad Sadik Kethergany, the Malaysian High Commissioner to Great Britain and Northern Ireland, yesterday (Tuesday 30 July).

Accompanied by University of Warwick Provost Christine Ennew, and WMG’s Director of Client and Business Development, Dr Kogila Balakrishnan, and Business Development Director, Sue Parr, His Excellency was given a tour of WMG’s world-class facilities.

He was especially keen to hear more about WMG’s technology research and collaborative industrial activities including the newly-opened National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC).

Professor David Mullins explained: “We were delighted to welcome the new Malaysian High Commissioner His Excellency Datuk Mohamad Sadik Kethergany on his first visit to WMG and the University of Warwick.

“We have had an excellent long and sustained relationship with Malaysia and its key companies and universities. It was very good to be able to show the High Commissioner and his team our research innovations from smart and connected vehicles and digital forensics to energy and electrification. We also had wide-ranging discussions on the importance of industry-engaged education, including Degree Apprenticeships.”

• Professor Roy Chung co-founded TTI, a global market leader in power equipment, and has been called the “King of Power Drills”
• An alumnus and Industrial Professor at the University of Warwick, he says the institution encourages “entrepreneurship, innovation, and creative ideas – what an entrepreneur needs”
• Professor Chung says he learned a lot from WMG and founder Professor Lord Bhattacharyya – “a visionary leader” who was his “lifetime mentor”
• His advice on how to succeed: “stay focused in your area, and be innovative, creative. Think of something new.”

One of Hong Kong’s top entrepreneurs, Professor Roy Chung, has received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Warwick UK – his alma mater, and an institution with which he has forged many significant links throughout his career.

Crowned by the media as the ‘King of Power Drills’, Professor Chung co-founded Techtronic Industries Company Limited in 1985, a company that has become an international market leader in power equipment and owns numerous global brands.

Professor Chung is highly dedicated to the advancement of the Hong Kong industry, and was Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and is now its Honorary President. He won the Young Industrialist Award of Hong Kong in 1997, and was further awarded the Industrialist of the Year in 2014.
He was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star and Bronze Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong SAR Government in 2017 and 2011 respectively. He was also appointed as Justice of Peace in 2005.
Professor Chung holds positions at universities across the world, including his role as Industrial Professor in WMG at the University of Warwick, where he also holds a Doctorate Degree of Engineering.
On becoming an Honorary Doctor of Science at the University of Warwick Summer Graduation ceremonies this week, Professor Chung commented:
“I feel very happy and very honoured to receive such a prestigious award from my alma mater, such an esteemed University.”
He talked about how Warwick encourages “entrepreneurship, innovation, and creative ideas – this is a good combination of what an entrepreneur needs.”

Professor Chung says his success is based on three factors: his sense of entrepreneurship, meeting his business partner, and “in the early 1990s I had the good chance to study the Integrated Graduate Development Scheme of WMG [University of Warwick] in Hong Kong – and that is how I came to know Professor Lord Bhattacharyya. Since then, he was my lifetime mentor.”
“With what I learned from this course, it gave me experience of how to do manufacturing better, and a global perspective.”

He has worked closely with the late Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, founder of WMG at the University of Warwick, on many projects through the years - including the establishment of a partnership between WMG and the Vocational Training Council in Hong Kong.
“What Professor Lord Bhattacharyya taught me was decision-making, entrepreneurship,” he reflected.
“Professor Lord Bhattacharyya was a visionary leader – I learned a lot from him. The Integrated Graduate Development Scheme was brought to Hong Kong by him, and through this programme I learned a lot, it opened my mind set. This course is very important to me.”
Professor Roy Chung is an advocate for vocational education and lifelong learning. On the importance of a quality technical education, like that offered at WMG, University of Warwick, he said:
“The concept of having work skills and academic knowledge as equally important – focusing on both of these areas – is the future. Work skills together with academic knowledge are very important, and that is what WMG is doing.
“The Integrated Graduate Development Scheme programme [launched by WMG in 1990] changed me into another person,” he continued.

Professor Chung established the Bright Future Charitable Foundation, which provides education, training and travelling opportunities for students across Hong Kong, mainland China and at the University of Warwick. He talked about what motivated him to set up the Foundation:
“I had very humble start. I was not very well educated in the beginning – I didn’t finish high school because of my family’s financial situation. Nowadays, there is a knowledge economy, so it is very important to gain knowledge […] so I really encourage young people to gain more knowledge – both academic knowledge and work skills.
“That’s why I try to sponsor some of the students who may not be doing well in academic areas but can still take up some kind of vocational training. Some people who do very well in vocational training, and I hope they can do something in academic areas – so I support them.
“That’s why I started this foundation […] I think that every young person should have a brighter future.”
Professor Dave Mullins, Interim Head of WMG at the University of Warwick, commented:
“I am thrilled to welcome Professor Roy Chung back to WMG. He is a person who embodies our founder Professor Lord Bhattacharyya’s vision of combining academic greatness with industrial innovation – and we are very proud of him.
“Professor Chung has achieved huge successes in business and industry, and he now uses his talents to help young people follow in his footsteps. His story is an inspiration to all of our students and graduates.
“I congratulate him warmly on becoming an Honorary Doctorate of Science, and look forward to our continued collaboration.”
Professor Chung shared some advice on how to succeed in life:
“Stay focused in your area, and be innovative, creative. Also, get ready for your future challenges. Studying at Warwick is to prepare yourself and get ready for those future challenges. Think of something new.”
Listen to the full podcast here.

Congratulations to all of the brilliant WMG students who graduated at the University of Warwick’s Summer Ceremony this week.

This year a total of 294 Master’s and Postgraduate Research students graduated from across WMG.

There were 266 Master’s students made up of 193 UK and overseas full-time students, and a further 73, from the part-time Master's programme.

A further 28 graduated from the Postgraduate Research programme including six EngD, 19 PhD and three Master's by Research students.

Professor David Mullins, Acting Head of WMG said: “It was a delight for us to honour the achievements of our new graduates at the degree congregation. It is a wonderful day of celebration for our students, with their family and friends, as they leave their studies to embark on the next stage of their careers.

“We wish them all the very best for their futures and the impact that each will make on their companies and communities.”

Professor Mullins added: “All of us at WMG are very proud of our alumni including Dr Roy Cheung who was also honoured at the ceremony and presented with an Honorary Doctor of Science. Dr Cheung also gave a stirring speech to our graduates on the opportunities that lie ahead.”

WMG was delighted to receive a group of senior delegates from China’s Zhongguancun Development Group (ZGC Group), led by their CEO Mr Xuan Hong on Thursday 11^th July. 

ZGC Group is regarded as China's Silicon Valley centred in Beijing with a network that extends throughout China and internationally, working with over 20,000 high-tech enterprises.

Mr Xuan was an alumnus from the Chiang foundation programme run at WMG in conjunction with the Chinese government in 1994.

The visitors were given an in-depth tour of the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) and the Professor Lord Bhattacharyya Building by Mark Amor-Segan and Richard Seago, accompanied by Head of China Programmes Steve Raynor. 

Mr Xuan commented, “It has been 25 years since I was last here, and much has changed. It is very impressive what WMG have achieved over the last quarter of a century. I am very proud to be a WMG alumnus and the programmes I attended here are still inspiring me in my daily job.” Mr Xuan also expressed his wishes to send a group of senior ZGC group management to WMG in 2020, to attend a tailor-made management course focusing on Risk and Investment Management.

Professor David Mullins responded, “We are very proud to hear that you have found the learning from our programme so beneficial. We have watched the tremendous development at ZGC under the leadership of Mr Xuan. We are delighted to have the opportunity to work closely with ZGC group in the future.”

WMG is pleased to announce that its Battery School is now officially supported by the Faraday Institution.

In its role as the Electrical Energy Storage APC Spoke, WMG’s battery experts together with guest lecturers facilitate a mix of presentations and practical hands-on lab sessions covering electrochemistry, applications, future technologies, manufacturing, safety, testing, forensics and battery end of life.

The new collaborative Battery School was officially opened by Neil Morris, CEO of the Faraday Institution, with the first session held for 25 PhD students and future battery engineers, in June.

The Faraday Institution is the UK’s independent institute for electrochemical energy storage science and technology, supporting research, training, and analysis. It brings together scientists and industry partners on research projects to reduce battery cost, weight, and volume; to improve performance and reliability; and to develop whole-life strategies from mining to recycling to second use.

The Battery School is situated at WMG’s Energy Innovation Centre – the largest facility of its kind in the UK. Find out more about the Energy Innovation Centre here.

Today, Acting Head of Department, Professor David Mullins welcomed Sir Vince Cable to WMG.

Professor Mullins explained: "We were delighted to welcome Sir Vince Cable back to WMG at the University of Warwick to see how WMG’s Industry partners are benefitting from WMG's applied research and education programmes.

"As Business Secretary, Sir Vince worked closely with our founder, Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, to develop the UK's Industry and Research base. We were delighted to show Sir Vince how those efforts are making a real difference today, from electric cars to apprenticeships and to do so in the remarkable Professor Lord Bhattacharyya Building.”

Sir Vince also took part in a roundtable discussion, hosted by Professor Mullins, with key executives from WMG and representatives from local SMEs including Charg:gy and Alucast.

Professor Mullins said: "I'm particularly glad that our partners were able to share with Sir Vince the issues and opportunities facing our region's Small and Medium sized businesses as they seek to innovate for future growth."

Sir Vince Cable commented “I was delighted to visit WMG again to see the great work they do with industry and to meet some of the local SMEs. The Prof. Lord Bhattacharyya Building is an absolutely magnificent building and is a proper tribute to Kumar’s contribution to the car industry, to Warwick, and to British Engineering. It is very appropriate that Kumar is recognised publicly in this way."

The Business Secretary Rt Hon Greg Clark has announced, today, two dedicated tributes to recognise the outstanding achievements and continue the legacy of Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya (CBE FREng FRS).

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, who passed away 1 March 2019, was formerly Regius Professor of Manufacturing, Fellow of the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering. As the founder of WMG, at the University of Warwick, he was widely recognised globally for his position as a leading light in the fields of manufacturing, engineering and technology.

The reputation of WMG and Lord Bhattacharyya’s status as one of the UK’s foremost experts in manufacturing saw successive administrations call on his expert advice for a range of initiatives, including most recently the Government’s investment in battery technology through the Faraday Challenge.

Business Secretary Greg Clark announced, in the House of Commons, two tributes designed to reflect Lord Bhattacharyya’s life and achievements by championing excellence in engineering education, and industry-academia collaboration. They are:

- A Bhattacharyya Award for sustained collaboration between universities and industry. This Award, administered by the Royal Academy of Engineering, will recognise the types of partnership being championed by the Government’s Industrial Strategy, that bring together academia and industry to tackle challenges across sectors; and

- A Bhattacharyya Engineering Inclusion Programme in the South West Midlands area. This Programme will be a Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) education support programme for schools and FE colleges in the region, providing a range of extra-curricular activities, resources and bursaries to engage and inspire young people to pursue further study and careers in engineering.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Business Secretary Greg Clark said:

“Today I am pleased to announce a tribute to celebrate the contribution Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya has made to the UK, since he came here from India in 1961.

“He founded and led Warwick Manufacturing Group for nearly 40 years. Through his leadership, WMG has developed a global reputation in automotive research, the built environment, digital technology and healthcare systems, built on strong collaborations between academia and industry.

“Successive UK governments have drawn on his advice on manufacturing and technology and built strong lasting collaborative relationships with India and China. Kumar Bhattacharyya also championed high quality technical education so the tribute I am announcing today reflects both these important aspects of his work.”

The University of Warwick’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart Croft said:

“These new national awards are both fitting tributes for a remarkable man. Lord Bhattacharyya was the ultimate personification of collaboration between universities and industry, he also had a passion for expanding the number of people undertaking engineering education and ensuring that everyone could access opportunities to do so. To this end he help establish not just one but two WMG Academy schools for students aged 14-19 with an interest in science, technology, engineering and maths. I am sure that these new awards will inspire and reward many more people following his trailblazing path.”

Professor Dave Mullins, Acting Head of WMG added:

“We are delighted that Professor Lord Bhattacharyya has been recognised and honoured in this way by the UK Government. He was committed to education and research over a sustained 50-year period and his passion was evident for all to see. He was determined that industry had the skills to innovate and be competitive, working with the UK Government to ensure this started with technical education in schools. Lord Bhattacharyya believed in taking risks and, through collaborative R&D, over the last 40 years WMG has enabled multiple ground breaking products to come to market.”

Dr Hayaatun Sillem, CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said:

“We are delighted to be working with BEIS on a new suite of programmes and awards to celebrate the life of the exceptional engineer Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya. Lord Bhattacharyya was a pivotal figure in UK manufacturing industry while having a long and distinguished career in higher education.

“The new award to promote longstanding industry-university collaboration is a fitting tribute. In addition, the Academy is delighted to be supporting a new engineering inclusion programme for schools and colleges in the West Midlands to encourage children from diverse backgrounds into careers in engineering.

“Lord Bhattacharyya was a passionate advocate of diversity and inclusion and we look forward to working with the Warwick Manufacturing Group, local employers, schools and colleges to create future generations of engineers and technicians for our industries.”

Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street, said:

“Lord Bhattacharyya’s contribution to the West Midlands economy was immense, not least in helping to place our region at the cutting edge of next-generation automotive technology.

“We are also benefitting from the strong and lasting links he forged between industry and education, relationships that will help stand us in good stead over the coming years.

“But Kumar was also a friend, colleague and trusted advisor and I can think of no better way of growing his wonderful legacy than with these two new initiatives.”

The Award and the Programme will be opened officially from later this year.

WMG's Professor of Marketing and Service Systems, Irene Ng, has been featured in the annual Women to Watch supplement, compiled by Cranfield University.

The 2019 edition features 50 Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic (BAME) women, showcasing inspiring professionals who come from backgrounds historically under-represented in the senior leadership pipeline.

Professor Ng said: “ I am honoured to be featured in the Women to Watch supplement. It is so important that we continue to look around our own contexts and lives to be mindful of representations, whether it’s BAME or other minority views.”

Businesses should tap into diverse talent pool

Cranfield University’s Female FTSE Board Report, launched today [11 July], reveals that only 11% of women on FTSE 100 boards are from BAME backgrounds.

Dr Doyin Atewologun, Director of the Gender, Leadership and Inclusion Centre, says: “We need to be sure that we are not only advancing progress for a certain small group of women, but are truly pushing board diversity in every sense. We hope executive search firms, FTSE Board Chairs and other Directors are inspired by the rich talent we highlight, to look at gender diversity - including men - in a different way.”

Women of colour are missing from the boardroom

The Women to Watch supplement was introduced by Cranfield University’s Gender, Leadership and Inclusion Centre in 2009, and is this year compiled in collaboration with The Network of Networks BAME – Multicultural Chapter (TNON) and the Black British Business Awards.

Melanie Eusebe and Sophie Chandauka, Co-Founders of the Black British Business Awards said: “In 2019, it is simply unacceptable for any FTSE 350 nomination committee to refer to the common refrain that there are no Black Asian and other Minority Ethnic (BAME) women on boards because the talent does not exist. Women of colour are often missing from the boardroom inclusion discourse, from the search firm shortlists and, ultimately, from the PLC board. The BBBAwards joins Cranfield University in this bold step to disrupt the status quo by declaring, through the profiles of these 50 impressive women, that BAME women of commercial excellence and tenure exist in substantial numbers.”

Diane Greenidge, Founder of TNON, said: “These inspiring women, already leaders in their respective fields, have the potential to bring the power of greater diversity to UK boardrooms. We join Cranfield University in urging businesses to realise the positive impact that women from a broader range of backgrounds can have on their success.”