Enterprise Hub mentors spotlight

Dr Smith founded Intetech Ltd, an award-winning software company acquired by Wood Group, where she later served as Senior Vice President for Digital Solutions.

Now leading Larkton Ltd, Liane combines her deep technical knowledge with a strategic focus on using data and digital tools to drive efficiency, safety, and performance in engineering systems.

Liane is recognised as a world-leading authority on corrosion and materials within the oil and gas industries. She has made an outstanding engineering contribution to the safety and economic viability of oil and gas fields throughout the world.

Brewster’s product experience includes printed circuit boards, both manufacturing processes and capital equipment, 3D circuit boards, online advertising, optical sensors, military chip packaging, radar tubes and. Brewster has worked at Zuhlke Engineering, e2v technologies, Clicktream Technologies, Orbotech and PCK Technology Kollmorgen.

The experience of launching new products and almost six years running an internet advertising startup led to Brewster giving back in the form of mentoring early stage and growth startups.

He focuses on sharing his experiences in business development sales, sales techniques and the practicalities of day-to-day sales and lead generation. He has mentored at the Royal Academy of Engineering for the past ten years as well as for Accelerate Cambridge, LMarks, Seraphim Space Capital and many other groups.

Professor Ruth Allen is passionate about supporting young people in engineering.

As a technical expert, consultant, entrepreneur and managing director she has developed and grown internationally recognised asset and infrastructure management consultancy companies, providing new and innovative solutions to the water, energy, roads and rail sectors in the UK and around the world.

Ruth has established and developed highly successful companies working in both applied research and development, as well as consultancy practices.

Paul was instrumental in the fundamental evolution of UK network infrastructure from narrowband circuit switches to the next generation of broadband multi-service networks.

His career has taken him from an engineering apprenticeship to senior leadership roles where he played a major role in the transformation of telecommunication networks to support todays digital services (Broadband, Mobile, Streaming).

He remains very active professionally supporting high growth startup/scaleup companies and leaders addressing society’s fundamental challenges such as achieving net zero, inclusion and social mobility.

Professor Medcalf has worked on projects to develop pharmaceuticals, advanced therapeutics, medical devices and combination products with input at each stage of the product lifecycle.

His input spans from preparation of candidate products and prototypes to process design, quality management, manufacture and process troubleshooting.

Nick has led projects in academia, industry, and the public sector. His main motivation is to get safe, effective, innovative products to market, using robust, durable and economical operations.

Nick designs and improves manufacturing and business processes in the context of the whole operation. He has managed international projects with teams in Italy, Japan, the Republic of Ireland and South Africa. 

Specialising in life sciences – with nearly 11 years of combined research and consulting experience – Farnaz has management consulting experience leading corporate and business unit strategy; digital transformation; big data strategy; operating model transformation; organisational model redesign; capability design; productivity improvement; business process re-engineering; and business case development for clients.

Farnaz primarily focuses on clients in healthcare life sciences, namely the pharmaceutical sector, and has additional experience serving clients in medical devices, retail, financial services, consumer packaged goods, non-profit, and the international public sector.

Her strong soft skills and work experience at a global level has enabled her to engage with teams and clients at all levels.

Mark Bryant is the Managing Director / CEO of Pressurements Ltd, Druck Holdings plc, M&H Plastics Ltd and Commercial Director at General Electric.

Mark has also sold a number of companies that he has successfully led as well as integrated bolt-on acquisitions.

As Head of Manufacturing within BGF, he has supported investment into over 75 engineering companies. Within BGF he has been NED on 12 company boards and was pro-bono member of the Industrial Development Advisory Board in BEIS.

He has mentored for the Enterprise Hub for over nine years, providing mentorship and leadership support as well as specific focus on Diversity and Inclusion and on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters.

Ian co-founded MicroEmissive Displays (MED) to commercialise his invention of the polymer OLED microdisplay, raising over £40M in investment and scaling operations across the UK and Germany.

With deep expertise in liquid crystal and optoelectronic devices, Ian now focuses on miniature sensor technologies with applications in automotive, space, biomedical, and healthcare sectors.

He is passionate about inspiring and mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers.