Advisory Board

Dr. Spike Willcocks is former Chief Strategy Officer at Oxford Nanopore [LSE: ONT]. He was instrumental in guiding the company from launch to a £3.5B IPO. Dr. Willcocks 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 Nanopore to the forefront of the industry, creating new technologies and innovations that have made a major impact on the biotech and nanotechnology landscapes.

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. 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.

Larry Marshall has built a career spanning science, entrepreneurship, venture capital and public sector leadership. After completing his PhD in laser physics, he co-founded six photonics and communications companies in Silicon Valley. He later co-founded three venture capital funds, Southern Cross Venture Partners (US–Australia–China), Blackbird Ventures and Main Sequence Ventures, which today collectively manage US$10 billion in assets. Between 2015 and 2023, Larry served as Chief Executive of CSIRO, growing revenue to over US$1 billion. He is currently Lead Independent Director of Fortescue (ASX:FMG, ~$40B market cap), Chairs Nanosonics IC (ASX:NAN), Pro-Chancellor (Chair of Council) of The Australian National University, and on the advisory board of Infleqtion (NYSE:INFQ).

David Garfield completed his engineering degree from Cambridge before joining British national security and software company Detica, becoming a business unit director in Detica’s electronic systems group, before its acquisition by BAE Systems. Post-acquisition, he became MD, Cyber-Security and CTO before leaving in 2014 to co-found his own venture – Garrison – which specialized in government and military cyber security applications. He served as Garrison’s CEO, leading the company through to a successful exit to Everfox (US defence-grade cyber-security provider that spun out of Raytheon) in 2024. After 30 years working on national security applications, David adds significant expertise to Syniad’s existing concentration in the defence arena. In addition to his membership of the AB, he also serves as a regular member of the Syniad Investment Committee.

Rob Greene has worked in partnership with the Syniad team since 2019. Having co-founded three of Syniad’s ventures, Rob has been hugely influential in shaping a focus on bio-inspired technologies within Syniad, and continues to inspire much of how the Company thinks about scalable biology applications. He brings a unique “founder’s journey” perspective to the AB.

He holds a BSc from Simon Fraser University and a master’s degree from the University of British Columbia.

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.

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.

Neil Rutter is an experienced defence 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.