The Henry Royce Institute is welcoming three new members to its Governing Board, bringing a wealth of expertise from research, industry and investment to help oversee the strategic and operational delivery of the UK’s national institute for advanced materials research and innovation.
Dr Amy Gandy is Head of the Materials Science and Engineering Programme at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). She is currently on secondment as the Materials Development and Realisation Manager to the UK Government’s commercial fusion programme, Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), and is visiting Professor at the University of Sheffield. In 2024-2025, in collaboration with the Henry Royce Institute, Amy brought together the UK fusion materials communities to update the UK Fusion Materials Roadmap, identifying key challenges and the solutions required for the UK to achieve commercial fusion.
Alastair Kilgour is a leader in investment strategy and vision. Following a career in the City spanning several decades, he was a founder of and Chief Investment Officer for venture capital firm Parkwalk Advisors, overseeing the deployment of over £500m into around 165 companies, including spinouts from 23 UK Universities. Over the period Parkwalk were invested in around 10% of all UK University spinouts. Alastair has served on over 20 company boards of both private and public companies and in 2025 was awarded the Entrepreneur Alumni Award by Imperial.
Dr Mark Selby is a deep-tech commercialisation leader with over two decades of experience taking advanced materials and energy technologies from lab to market. He is a Venture Partner at Energy Revolution Ventures and Executive Chair of Certain Energy. He spent much of his career at Ceres Power where, as Chief Technology Officer and later Chief Growth Officer, he helped scale the company from start-up to FTSE250, commercialising its metal-supported fuel cell technology through an asset-light licensing model.
Working closely with the CEO and Executive Team, Governing Board members provide strategic oversight, guidance and constructive challenge to support the effective governance and long-term development of the Institute. They also act as ambassadors for Royce, helping to build strong relationships across government, industry, academia and the wider innovation community, while supporting efforts to enhance the Institute’s national and international profile.
The three new members are replacing Alan Newby, Dr Richard Price and Dr Amanda Quadling, who have completed six-year terms as Governing Board members.
Alastair Kilgour and Mark Selby will also serve on Royce’s Governing Board Research Technology Translation Committee, chaired by Annalisa Gigante. They will be joined on this committee by two other new members, Judith Heikoop and Jane Toogood, both of whom bring significant international business leadership expertise.
Annalisa Gigante, Vice-Chair of Royce and Chair of the Governing Board’s Research Technology Translation Committee, said:
“I am delighted to welcome Amy, Alastair and Mark to our Governing Board and Judith and Jane to our Research Technology Translation Committee. These exceptional leaders collectively bring huge experience from commercial and research backgrounds. They will play key roles in shaping Royce’s strategic direction and provide vital expertise as we supercharge the pathway for advanced materials innovation from lab to business.”
Professor Paul Monks, Chair of Royce said:
“I welcome the new members to our Governing Board and our Research Technology Translation Committee and also want to express sincere thanks to Alan Newby, Dr Richard Price and Dr Amanda Quadling who are leaving our Governing Board after six years’ service.
“Alan has contributed hugely to the development of the Henry Royce Institute, both a member of our Governing Board and our Technology Transfer Committee. His steady guidance helped us build strong foundations with confidence and purpose and his insight from the perspective of a major manufacturing company engaged in the use and production of high-value materials across a diverse range of applications was invaluable.
“Richard has been highly influential in the shaping of Royce, serving on our Nominations, Technology Transfer, and Communications and Policy Committees as well as our Governing Board. His insight from the perspective of an SME engaged in the manufacture of high-value materials and products, and experience of raising investment, scaling up and engagement with academia has been invaluable.
“Amanda’s expertise has been invaluable during her six years of service on our Governing Board and our Research Technology Translation Committee. Her leadership has been fundamental to the delivery of the National Materials Challenge for Fusion and the development of the UK Fusion Materials Roadmap, jointly published by Royce and the UK Atomic Energy Authority.”
The new members of the Governing Board and the Research Technology Translation Committee are appointed from 1st September 2026 for a three-year term.
