Meet the Team

“As Managing Director, I’m responsible for leading Ionoptika in directions that are interesting and successful for the future. After completing a physics degree from Sussex University, I became a test engineer before moving into analytical SIMS in Manchester. I set up Ionoptika with two friends in 1994 to fill a gap felt by everybody working in this field. It was a great opportunity and a way for me to continue working in a field that I’d really grown to love. As a founding member of Ionoptika, it’s been a great source of pride to watch the company grow – each day brings new challenges and solutions. We’re in constant collaboration, building off each other and growing together. In my free time, I can usually be found with my nose in a new book, and I’m passionate about good food.”

“As Ionoptika’s Engineering Director, I’m responsible for ensuring that our engineering goals are met, standards of quality are upheld, and legal regulations are adhered to. I’m also a board member responsible for managing the company and planning long-term strategy. I do get to do some hands-on engineering to support our great engineering team. I graduated with a degree in Electronic Engineering, and this is my third Engineering Director role over the years. I joined Ionoptika in 2016 and continue to be impressed by the capabilities of the products that work here. Being an engineer, I’m unashamedly on the geek spectrum. I embrace this and love making plastic models in my spare time as well as running the Romsey Modellers modelling club, which adds a social aspect to this hobby.”

“As Sales Director, I look after our Ion Beam and instrument sales and marketing. I spend a lot of time working with our existing and potential clients at their labs and at conferences around the world. I graduated from Imperial College with a Biochemistry degree and went on to do an MSc in Applied Biology. After 20 years in the instrument sales roles, I was delighted to join Ionopitka, where I immediately felt I could make a difference. Our customers are world-leading scientists dedicated to advancing technologies and techniques. The interactions and collaborations that we’ve forged with these experts make Ionoptika so special to me. Despite the amount of professional travel I do, I still love exploring the world in my free time. Experiencing different countries and cultures is what truly makes me tick.”

“As Production and Purchasing Manager, my role involves overseeing the weekly and daily planning of Ionoptika’s production, problem-solving, and implementing systematic process improvements. I started my career with the Ministry of Defence, progressing from Apprentice all the way up to Project Engineer. I’ve gained diverse experience at several start-ups where I was principally a Production Manager. I enjoy working at Ionoptika because of the people, strong teamwork ethic, and positive work environment. I take pride in delivering products on or ahead of schedule to our customers. In my spare time, I love spending time with my family, cooking, and supporting my son in his taekwondo tournaments and music performances. I also enjoy gardening and hydroponics, as well as lawn bowling, which I play in league games and county competitions.”

“My role at Ionoptika is senior scientist, which means that I get involved in all of our instruments and Ion Beam systems, from design and development to testing and installation. When the opportunity came along to come on board, I jumped to it and joined Ionoptika in October 2023. I have worked in the Mass Spectrometry industry for more than 20 years and was part of the team that designed the original buncher and reflection for the first J105 back in the 2000s. In my spare time, I enjoy being outdoors with my dog and am a keen cyclist. I also still manage to play football, although at a somewhat slower pace now!”