Advisory Board

Dr. William (Bill) Lyons is former Executive Director of the Enterprise Technology Office of the Boeing Company. He led research and development strategy, technology planning, technical capability building and partnerships that spanned large industrials, universities, small-to-medium enterprises and start-ups.  He was recognized as a globally minded executive leader with demonstrated expertise in technology development and was responsible for developing global operations. He launched numerous university-industry consortia and global engineering and research centres in North America, Australia, Korea, Japan, Brazil and the Middle East. While at Boeing, he held progressively senior leadership roles globally and achieved “technical fellow” status due to his technical and scientific expertise. Dr. Lyons brings world-class experience in technology insertion, innovation management, aerospace & defence manufacturing, space science and sustainability technologies. His deep industry and technology experience also spans multiple sectors including aerospace & defence, higher education, national laboratories and the public sector.

He holds an MBA in Leadership from Seattle University, as well as a B.Ed., and B.S. in Climatology degrees from James Cook University, and a PhD in Atmospheric Sciences from The University of Queensland.

Dr. Spike Wilcox is former Chief Strategy Officer at Oxford Nanopores (LSE: ONT). He was instrumental in guiding the company’s strategic direction and taking it from its launch to a £3.5B IPO. Dr. Wilcox holds a D.Phil. in Biochemistry from Oxford University, where he developed a deep understanding of the latest advances in the field and honed his skills in strategic thinking. He leveraged this knowledge and expertise to guide Oxford Nanopores to the forefront of the industry, creating new technologies and innovations that have made a major impact on the biotech and nanotechnology landscapes.

Dr. Kirsty Hewitson is the Director of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Collaboration with the UK Atomic Energy Authority. She is also a leader in innovation and technology transfer, having held various senior positions in academia and industry. She is the former CEO of Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Network, where she leveraged her expertise to drive innovation and growth in the UK. Dr. Hewitson has also served as the Vice President of Strategy & Innovation at the National Nuclear Laboratory and as Director of Helsinki University Innovations. She also held a Glasstone Research Fellowship at Oxford University, where she earned her MChem and DPhil.

Throughout her career, Dr. Hewitson has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing innovation and driving progress in her field. She is known for her strategic vision and ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders across academia, government, and industry. With her extensive background and deep understanding of the innovation landscape, she is well-positioned to continue driving growth in the UK’s innovation sector.

Neil Rutter is an experienced defense executive, specializing in Canadian ITB (offset) funding. He has held several senior positions in the defence and aerospace industry, including General Manager of Textron Systems Canada Inc. and Senior Manager, Industrial Participation at Lockheed Martin. He attended the New York University School of Law and is licensed as an attorney in both Canada and the United States, bringing a unique perspective and legal expertise to his work. Additionally, he has served as an Artillery Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, providing him with a strong foundation in military operations and strategy. Throughout his career, Neil has demonstrated a deep understanding of offset funding and a commitment to excellence in all his endeavours.

Professor Tim Vorley is Pro Vice-Chancellor and the lead for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise within the Vice-Chancellor’s Group at Oxford Brookes University.  Prior to his roles at Oxford Brookes University, Tim held positions at the Universities of Sheffield and Cambridge, and at the Saïd Business School (University of Oxford). He currently leads the Innovation Caucus, co-funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Innovate UK and has previously led several projects funded under the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, Horizon Europe and ESRC.

Prof. Vorley is an economic geographer by training, and his research focuses on entrepreneurship, enterprise and regional economic development. He works extensively with a number of central government departments and agencies, as well as with Local Enterprise Partnerships and local government bodies. He is a member of the ESRC Strategic Advisory Network, the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Skills and Talent Advisory Group and Chairs the ESRC’s Transforming Business through Social Science advisory group.

Prof. Vorley is also the Vice-Chair of the Small Business Charter, created by Lord Young, which is leading the delivery of the Help to Grow Management programme through business schools across the UK.

LTG (Ret.) Giles Hill was one of the most senior officers in the UK armed forces until his retirement in 2021 after 35-years of service. He has acted as an advisor to several commercial ventures and operated an international business consultancy. His highly distinguished 35-year military career culminated with his promotion to Lieutenant General. He has served operational tours in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan and has held multiple command and leadership positions including Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment and UK Special Forces Support Group, Commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade, General Officer Commanding 1st Armoured and 1st (United Kingdom) Division, Deputy Commander of the NATO Coalition and Senior British Representative (Afghanistan).

He also holds the distinction of having served as Deputy Commanding General of the US 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. Within the UK Ministry of Defence, he has been Assistant Chief of Staff (MENA and Asia) and Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (strategy and global engagement).

He was awarded the CBE in 2014, the CB in 2020 and the US Legion of Merit in 2021 for leadership and is the Honorary Colonel of the 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment.

Graham Bell is the Managing Partner of Bridge Partners, specializing in Middle Eastern investment opportunities. With over 28 years of experience in the Middle East, his focus has been on bringing innovative businesses, technologies, and services to market by leveraging strong local connections and international expertise.  Graham has a proven track record in developing and managing high-quality investments, deploying $250-500 million annually, and targeting mid-to-large capital transactions with strategic value for the Middle East.  His areas of expertise include Saudi Arabia, venture capital, technology transfer, corporate finance, investor relations, and key sectors such as energy, telecoms, healthcare, education, IT, and tourism. He holds a B.A. Hons, in International Relations from University of Sussex.

Phil Swift is the Executive Chairman and Founder of the Ayrshire Group, a Calgary-based private investment firm. A principal focus of Ayrshire’s business has been investing in commercial real estate as well as property technology companies and related operating businesses. Phil was also one of the founders of ARC Financial Corporation in 1989, and among other businesses in the energy sector is Canada’s largest energy private equity firm and has over $6 billion of capital under management. He held various senior management positions in the company including President and CEO. Phil has extensive equity investment, corporate advisory, and direct investment management experience.

Phil has served on the boards of approximately 20 corporations.  He was President for Alberta and International Director of the North American Society for Corporate Planning. He is a recipient of the Warren Bennis Award for Leadership Excellence as well as the Pinnacle Award for achievement in entrepreneurship. He has co-authored a book published by McGraw Hill entitled “In Search of Leadership – How Great Leaders Answer the Question “Why Lead?”.

Phil has also been active in philanthropy and has served on a number of community organizations and foundation boards. He is a Co-Founder of The Impact Investment Forum (IIF) (formerly Pacific Impact Investor Network) and S3I (Sauder Centre for Social Innovation and Impact Investing) at UBC Sauder School of Business as well as an Advisor at the Sauder Business School Advisory Board. He was Chairman of the Canadian Institute of Natural and Integrative Medicine and has been increasingly involved in philanthropic projects overseas through the Swift Family Foundation.

Phil holds an MBA from the University of British Columbia, as well as a B.Sc. in Math and Philosophy.