UKSPA Directory
UKSPA Board
Dr David J Hardman MBE Chairman
David is Chief Executive Officer of Birmingham Science Park Aston ’ s Innovation Birmingham . Since arriving in late 2008 , he has led the creation of a new Campus strategy and in order to pave the way for the new £ 35 million Innovation Birmingham Campus development . Key to the strategy is integrating Innovation Birmingham ’ s activities into the city ’ s economic development and Smart City plans .
David is also on the board of Birmingham Science City and is the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP ’ s Tech ( Digital ) Sector Champion .
Catherine Johns Vice Chair
Business Durham is the economic development company for County Durham and Catherine leads on inward investment , innovation , communications and strategy , including developing NETPark as the global hub for materials integration and the “ Durham Smart County ” approach , using knowledge , partnerships , resources , and data from public and private sectors to effect change .
As well as being Vice-Chair of UKSPA , Catherine is a Director of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation .
George Walker MRICS Treasurer and Secretary
George Walker , MRICS , is a General Practice Chartered Surveyor who spent twenty-five years working in the coal industry . He worked for British Coal until 1997 , when as Principle Estates Surveyor for Scotland , he was involved in the sale of core mining business and surplus land and property .
George has been Park Manager at Pentlands Science Park for ten years and is responsible for all aspects of property and facilities management on the site and is a member of Moredun ’ s Senior Management Group .
Dr Patrick Bonnett Director
Dr Patrick Bonnett has worked widely across the science and innovation arenas for the past 27 years . His work has included time with the SQW Group where he was involved as one of the company ’ s leading innovation experts in a range of science park evaluations , feasibility assessments and also provided operational inputs to SQW ’ s sister organisation , Oxford Innovation .
He currently works for Fera Science Ltd as Head of Economic Growth & is Fera ’ s lead on the ongoing development for the National Agri-Food Innovation Campus .
James Chaffer Director
James has been an active member of UKSPA since 2007 , working closely with many of the current membership to help them implement efficient software systems , as well as assisting the executive team with data management .
His focus on the management of multi-occupancy buildings , primarily focusing on innovation-led environments and technology incubators , culminated in the development of UKSPA CLARITY – an integrated software solution for the management of sales , operations , financial and facilities management of Science Parks , Incubators and Innovation Centres .
26 UKSPA Directory 2016 / 17 UKSPA Board