The Team

Mike McMahon

Technology Transfer Manager

Mike is an experienced Project Manager and Change Management practitioner with an MSc in Engineering Project Management, along with being an APM Practitioner and APMG qualified. An IT Graduate with over 15 years’ experience working in Higher Education and the FE sector specialising in European Structural funding (ESF and ERDF projects), as well as business planning development.

He joined Swansea University in 2013 to manage a Pan Wales ESF funded project called ‘Access to Masters’ within the College of Engineering, and after the project’s success, he went on to lead the Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarship for Swansea University. Over a 5 year period as the PM, he focused on higher-level research with SME partners across Wales.

Mike is currently working towards his Chartered Project Management status with the Association for Project Management (APM).

Email: [email protected]

Gareth Mayhead

Head of Technology Transfer

Gareth joined Swansea University in 2021 as Head of Technology Transfer, with responsibility for all aspects of intellectual property management, technology transfer, and consultancy. He leads the AgorIP Technology Transfer Team.

With 25 years of experience at the interface of the public and private sectors in the UK and USA, he has expertise in innovation, commercialisation, technology transfer, grant funding, partnership working, strategy and policy development.

Email: [email protected]

Sophie Phelps

Technology Transfer Manager

Sophie recently joined AgorIP as one of our Technology Transfer Managers. She has experience working on European-funded major projects, previously she managed SPECIFIC IKC’s Impact. Originally she was based within the University’s Research Engagement and Innovation Services Department, where Sophie supported a portfolio of European-funded projects including FLEXIS and SPARC.

Before relocating back to Swansea Sophie worked in the private Engineering sector, exploring and commercialising refrigeration solutions with lower global warming potential and managing their roll-out into society with major retailers. She also holds a Batchelors degree in Forensic Science, from the University of the West of England in Bristol.

Email: [email protected]

Hugh Jones

Finance & Compliance Officer

Hugh has nearly 15 years working on various EU-funded projects. He obtained his BSc in Accountancy, Law & Economics from the University of Wales.

Before joining AgorIP Hugh was employed by the Life Science Hub Wales and working on the Accelerate project. He spent several years with the British Council on the Erasmus+ project, working with schools throughout the UK and Europe. Prior to that, he worked at Techniquest on the Reach the Heights project.

Hugh has only recently joined AgorIP and is hoping to bring his vast experience in EU-funded projects to the team and work with colleagues to deliver the project in accordance with the guidelines set out by WEFO.

Email: [email protected]

Laura Marmont

Administrator - East Wales Operation

Laura joined Swansea University back in 2013. For the last 7 years, she worked in the Research Engagement and Innovation department, supporting externally funded projects across the University. Laura’s career has always been within the Finance and Accounting sector, previously she worked in the Finance Department at Peacocks Head Office in Cardiff and for Gower College Finance team. During her career, she has also completed the Association of Accounting Technicians Qualification (AAT) and HND in Business and Accounting in Neath Port Talbot College.

Laura joined AgorIP in 2021 as the AgorIP Administrator for the East Wales Operation. As part of the Operation teams within AgorIP, Laura provides part of administrative and financial support for the project. This entails assisting with the management of AgorIP expenditure, dealing with administrative and financial queries, maintenance of record keeping, and other office support.

Email: [email protected]

Laura Penry

Engagement & Communications Officer

Laura has several years’ experience in marketing, both digital and traditional. She has worked in various industries, mainly specialising in promoting awareness of brands and increasing engagement to the right target audience.

Laura joined AgorIP as the Engagement & Communications officer in April 2021. Part of her role is to increase the awareness of the AgorIP project and support our opportunities. Laura is going to be working towards her Chartered Institute of Marketing at the School of Management this year.

Email: [email protected]

Ceri Jones

Director

Ceri holds the position of Director of the Research, Engagement and Innovation Services at Swansea University. He directs the Business Development, IP Commercialisation, Research Support and European Funding operations of the University and has extensive experience in research and innovation and a strong understanding of the link between business and academia.

Ceri was Assistant Director of the University’s Knowledge Exploitation Centre, Acting Head of the Research and Innovation Office and Deputy Director of Research and Innovation before taking up his current role. He has been the driving force behind a number of the University’s strategic business projects including; LEAD Wales, Dragon Innovation Partnership, Enterprise Europe Network, Knowledge Exchange Wales, A4B and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. With significant experience in the area of entrepreneurship and SME engagement, Ceri is passionate about the role that Universities can play in the development of the knowledge economy.

Email: [email protected]

Dr Kelvin Donne

AgorIP Scientific Research Lead

Kelvin received a B.Sc. (Hons.) first-class degree in physics and a Ph.D. degree in computational physics from the University of Wales in 1974 and 1980, respectively. His current role is the Scientific Research Lead for the AgorIP. He has extensive experience of knowledge in transfer programs, over a 30-year period he has generated over £4 million of research income from various sources such as; EPSRC, EU, and UK government sources. The majority of his 25 Ph.D. supervisions have been in collaboration with local industry. He has also won and led a number of EU structural fund projects in the Knowledge Transfer area, with particular emphasis on the SME community.

In his current role, Kelvin provides specialist scientific support to the team for a variety of project enquiries. He also facilitates collaborative research with colleagues in the School of Management in the area of Knowledge Transfer. One example of this is a forthcoming paper accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management:

“ The Underlying Complexities Impacting Accelerator Decision Making—A Combined Methodological Analysis” Kelvin E. Donne, David L. Hughes, Michael D. Williams, and Gareth H. Davies

Email: [email protected]

Lorna Evans

Assistant Technology Transfer Officer

Lorna began her working life as an analyst programmer in British Steel, Port Talbot after gaining a BSc in Computer Science at Swansea University. This was followed by a brief foray over the border where she worked for Greater Manchester Police as part of a team developing a new finance and personnel system for the force. On returning to Wales, Lorna taught IT for six years at Afan College. With the call of industry proving too great, Lorna returned to software development and worked for EDS and Hewlett Packard for over 16 years. On the closure of the Swansea site, Lorna decided to retrain and was awarded a Law degree in 2017; she then completed her Masters in Law the following year.

A key member of the team, Lorna has responsible for the management of Agor IP and Swansea University’s IP portfolio and database thereto. Her knowledge on aspects of drafting and amending commercial agreements, consultancy agreements, contracts and liaising with third party legal consultants make her the ‘go to’ person within Agor IP for legal matters.

Email: [email protected]

Emma Williams

Technology Transfer Manager

Emma has worked in Higher Education since 2003 when she first joined the University. Emma came from a background in the Civil Service having studied Social Sciences at Cardiff University. She also spent three years working abroad in the private sector.

Emma has a strong background in project management, having managed a number of high-profile projects, including the flagship South West Wales Higher Education Partnership. Emma gained the APMP Practitioner Qualification in 2010 and has mentored other Project Managers as part of her previous role in the Planning and Strategic Projects Unit.

Emma joined the AgorIP team in May 2018. Having worked in various roles within the team, she became a Technology Transfer Manager in February 2019.

Email: [email protected]

Chloe Gordon

Financial Administrator

Email: [email protected]

Laurel Jones

Senior Project Manager

Laurel enjoyed an extensive career in Business & Commercial banking for over 20 years and was latterly a Business Development Manager for Bank of Scotland, based in Swansea.

Joining Swansea University in 2009, Laurel has over a decade of experience in managing and guiding Projects in an HEI setting. Laurel was one of the first to join the AgorIP Operation in 2017 as a Technology Transfer Manager and went on to become successful in achieving the status of a Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP).

As an Associate Member of the Association for Project Management and holding the APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ), Laurel heads up the now pan-Wales AgorIP Operation as its Senior Project Manager.

Email: [email protected]

Steven Powell

Technology Transfer Officer

Steven has worked in Engineering Product Design and Project Management with Rank Xerox, CMW Labs, VW / Audi and SME’s. Moving from industry to University Steven has worked in both Academic and Project Management roles for 20 years, establishing design-specific degree and post-grad courses including MPhil and PhD supervision as Design lead. Steven’s technology transfer experience covers extensive academic to business engagement and collaboration, with leadership and management of University knowledge exchange, R&D, innovation projects, and programs. An active member of the Institute of Engineering Designers (IED), Steven is a panel member for accreditation of University courses throughout the UK. Outside of work Steve interests are mountaineering, cycling, running, travel and classic motorsport.

Steven joined the AgorIP project team in 2017 as a Technology Transfer Manager. Firstly, establishing the Design and development support element for Agor projects. Steven has supported projects from concept to launch via spin-out and start-up to established SME’s. He has licensed University IP and technology for commercial and collaboration benefits. AgorIP now aims to take these experiences into developing NHS engagement.

Email: [email protected]

Yvonne Jones

Technology Transfer Manager

Yvonne is a sustainable development specialist, with a background in science education, waste, and environmental management. In 2004, having gained an MSc in Education for Sustainable Development, she undertook a career change and began working for a prominent Welsh charity, and joined Swansea University in 2007 as a Business Development Officer for an EU funded project, and since then has worked on many others. Over her time at Swansea, her sustainability background naturally led her into the field of EU funding Cross Cutting Themes (CCTs), and she has become a recognised authority in this field. She is often called upon for help and advice across the University and wider afield. She currently carries responsibility for ensuring the AgorIP Project meets it CCT obligations.

Yvonne has worked as an AgorIP Technology Transfer Manager since mid-2017. Building on experience of the science and environment sectors, she now engages with academics from the College of Science and the Computational Foundry and carries responsibility for AgorIP NHS engagement across Wales.

Email: [email protected]