Philip Johnson

Philip is the Chief Executive of the LIFE accelerator.  He has extensive experience in the electricity sector having held a variety of executive and senior management positions covering all aspects of the supply chain.  He is a Member of the Board of the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation www.niaur.gov.uk and his previous appointments include periods with Ocean Power, National Power, Coopers & Lybrand, North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board, British Electricity International and the Central Electricity Generating Board with whom he originally undertook a student apprenticeship.  He has raised finance and built a number of successful new energy technology businesses including Innogy, CoGen and Energy Direct.  Philip is a Chartered Engineer; he has an MBA (Insigni Laude) from Glasgow University and a B.Sc. (Hons) in Energy Technology from Aston University; he is a fellow of the Energy Institute.

Matthew Brown

Matthew is Investment Director of LIFE.  He has spent most of his professional life in Spain, where he worked for Lehman Brothers, the American investment bank, and headed up the Corporate Finance function for a local strategy consulting firm before moving to Amadeus, the quoted travel technology company, as Corporate Development Manager.  In 1999 he returned to the UK to found and run a VC-backed mobile technology venture.  Recently, he has worked as a freelance business strategy consultant and as a Deal Manager for Advantage Business Angels.  Matthew holds a BSc (Hons) in Systems Management from The City University, an MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College and an MBA from Manchester Business School.

Richard Linley

Richard is New Business Development Manager of LIFE.  He has primary responsibility is sourcing new business for the front-end of the LIFE pipeline. Having studied Biochemical Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University, Richard joined United Provincial Newspapers as a management trainee.  After several years he then joined Blue Circle Heating in a strategic marketing role for the Potterton and Myson Brands.  He later joined Hepworth Heating where he coordinated the new product development of and launched the Energysaver Condensing boiler directing the TV campaign that drove its promotion.  In the Mid 90’s he and his ex-Chief Executive from Hepworth plc formed a major domestic heating installation business.  Richard then went into consultancy and has worked with a number of clients from large multinationals to technology start-ups advising on strategic marketing management.  Richard has a Masters Degree in Marketing Management and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. 

Robert Maddock

Robert is the LIFE Accelerator's Programme Manager.  As well as case management responsibilities, he has overall responsibility for programme management in the Accelerator, including the LIFE preferred supplier network and mentor network.  Robert has a proven track record of project management in a commercial/industrial environment  - immediately prior to LIFE he was Morgan Europe's project manager responsible for the engineering, design, sub-contract manufacture, site supervision, installation, commissioning and servicing of steel rolling mill equipment. 

He has "Hands on" experience of early stage technology investment including the development and implementation of new technology; together with personal experience of taking product through the cycle from innovation to implementation in a business including securing the necessary finance and resource investment.  Robert has spent most of his working life in a small to medium sized enterprise and is intimately familiar with the pressures and issues faced by this type of organisation.  Having primarily worked in energy intensive industries he is acutely aware of the resource and technological issues surrounding energy supply and consumption.  Robert holds a B.Eng in Mechanical Engineering from Newcastle University and an Executive M.B.A. from Sheffield University.

Lindsay Tingle

Lindsay is LIFE’s Financial Controller and has responsibility for financial management and reporting within the company. Lindsay has run her own business for the last four years, providing book-keeping, payroll and training services to businesses in and around the Sheffield area. As a result she has gained experience working both in the public and private sectors, in a range of businesses including financial services, manufacturing, property and retail. Lindsay is a Fellow of the International Association of Book-keepers.

William Fenton

William looks after LIFE’s Foundation Partners bringing 16 years experience helping commercial  sponsors. He is a member of The European Sponsorship Association  and is Editor of The World   Sponsorship Monitor. William has been published in The International Journal of Sports Marketing &   Sponsorship and The Chronicle of Sponsorship Marketing and lectures at both the Vlekho Business School  and  VUB University in Brussels. He has appeared on CNBC television's Money and Sport programme and  holds the Market Research Society Advanced Certificate in Market and Social Research Practice and is a Fellow of the RSA.