FOUNDATION FUTURE LEADERS 2026
We are delighted to announce the Foundation Future Leaders for 2026!
The Foundation Future Leaders programme is organised by the Foundation for Science and Technology, and each year brings together a cohort of around 35 mid-career professionals over the course of a year, with approximately one third of representatives drawn from each of the research community, industry, and the civil service and wider public sector.
Over the next 12 months, the group will meet senior figures from government, parliament, universities, large industry, SMEs, research charities and others, to enhance their knowledge of the wider UK science and technology ecosystem. Just as importantly, Future Leaders present their own expertise, develop new skills and make future contacts. The programme includes external visits and the development of an annual conference for a wider group of mid-career future leaders in science, technology, research and innovation.
The selected candidates are drawn from a wide range of organisations and will bring a diverse range of experiences and expertise to our newest Foundation Future Leaders programme.
The 2026 Foundation Future Leaders are:
|
NAME |
POSITION |
ORGANISATION |
|
Dr Muhammad Adamu |
Research Fellow |
University of Nottingham |
|
Aaliyah Arnold |
Senior Project Engineer |
National Physical Laboratory |
|
William Atkinson |
Intellectual Property Manager |
National Physical Laboratory |
|
Jenny Chapman |
Biology and Health Adviser |
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology |
|
Dr Danielle Clarke |
Laser Research Scientist |
Central Laser Facility, Science and Technology Facilities Council, UKRI |
|
Dr James Close |
Associate Professor in Medicine and Psychology |
University of Plymouth |
|
Darryl Clough |
Head of Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment |
Office for Life Sciences |
|
Dr Robert Deller |
Programme Manager |
Medical Research Council, UKRI |
|
Dr Lily Ellis-Gibbings |
University Liaison Officer |
National Physical Laboratory |
|
John Fitzpatrick |
Head of Smart Data Strategy and Sectors |
Department for Business and Trade |
|
Dr Iain Foulger |
Senior Science and Project Adviser |
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero |
|
Dr Laura Gray |
Senior Research Fellow |
University of Sheffield |
|
Dawn Greenberg |
Interim Head of AI and Digital |
Arts and Humanities Research Council, UKRI |
|
Dr Mari Herigstad |
Senior Lecturer |
Sheffield Hallam University |
|
Dr Victoria Honour |
Senior Policy Advisor – Net Zero Innovation |
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero |
|
Dr Alex Kersting |
Faraday Institution Battery Degradation Project Programme Manager |
University of Cambridge |
|
Dr Rebecca Leithall |
Research and Innovation Strategy Manager |
University of Bristol |
|
Georgina Lott |
Head of Education Innovation |
The Institute for Research in Schools |
|
Dr Okechukwu Okorie |
Senior Lecturer in Engineering Design for Sustainability and Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow |
The University of Manchester |
|
Joaquin Perez-Grande |
Space Ecosystem Manager |
Satellite Applications Catapult |
|
Isabelle Reydellet |
Operations Manager/Team Leader MHRA Laboratories |
LGC |
|
Dr Patricia Shamai |
Principal Lecturer in International Relations/ Associate Head Students |
University of Portsmouth |
|
Dr Francois Sicard |
Assistant Professor in Interdisciplinary Sciences and Engineering |
University College London |
|
Melanie Smith |
Deputy Head of Science and Engineering Profession |
UK Health Security Agency |
|
Dr Alana Smith |
Science Adviser |
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office |
|
Jane Smith |
Inclusion & Wellbeing Partner |
IOP Publishing |
|
Dr Cagla Stevenson |
Senior Policy Adviser |
The Royal Society |
|
Dr Suria Subiah |
Technical Adviser |
Department for Business and Trade |
|
Dr Katarzyna Targonska-Hadzibabic |
Physical Science & Technology Impact Facilitator |
University of Cambridge |
|
Dr Irene Tartaruga |
Aeromechanics Engineer |
Rolls-Royce |
|
Dr John Tredinnick-Rowe |
Research Fellow in Advanced Clinical Practice |
University of Plymouth |
|
Dr Mann Virdee |
Sir Isaac Newton Adjunct Fellow in Science, Innovation and Technology |
|
|
Cally Walker |
Programme lead – International Bilateral Fund |
UK Space Agency |
|
Dale Wyllie |
Senior Payload Systems Engineer |
UK Space Agency |
|
Marisa Zeolla |
Advanced Technology Project Lead |
NCC |