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Dafydd Davies
Chief Executive
Dafydd is a practitioner in sales & marketing, new product development and business strategy, and is an experienced project manager.
He is currently involved in a diverse range of innovation and technology exploitation projects for both business and academia.
He remains as passionate as ever about the real potential for competitive advantage to be gained from effective marketing-led innovation processes encompassing creativity, marketing research, NPD, branding and positioning development, and the protection and commercial exploitation of intellectual property. Dafydd also actively participates with the Welsh Assembly Government in the development of innovation policy in Wales, chairs the North Wales Innovation Partnership and is an associate of Manchester Business School.
Twice a Supermarketing Top 20 New Product Award Winner with Nestlé, Dafydd brings 28 years international marketing development experience for clients such as Delmonte, BP, AA, Amersham International, BMR NeuroTech, Racal (now Thales), Whitbread, Barclays Bank, Royal Mint, Bissell, Stena, Unisys, McAlpine, Bluestone and RJ Reynolds.
Click here to email DafyddChris Price-Jones
Innovation Director
Chris is BIC Innovations’ Innovation Director and has a first-class general business & industrial management background. Experienced at developing and mentoring others as a manager, colleague and in a student /tutor relationship, Chris has utilised his skills in developing large multi national corporations as well as SME's.
Prior to working for BIC, Chris was global technical director for the Leaf Group, a major European food technology and specialist ingredients group, where he was responsible for R&D, Innovation and Quality. Chris has also held senior management posts in R&D with other blue chip companies such as Boots, Callard & Bowser, Cadbury & Beecham Products. He is highly experienced in all aspects of R&D management and implementation.
He has direct responsibility over technical project development, commercialisation of new products and strategy with industry and academia. Chris is also the Director-North Wales of the Manufacturing Advisory Service.
Huw Watkins
Business Development Director
A graduate in Environmental Management, Huw worked for over 11 years on technical and commercial projects with Dwr Cymru/Hyder and United Utiliies where he had responsibilities for corporate compliance, income generation and customer service.
With a strong background in strategic development and marketing, he focuses on innovation projects with BIC, working for a range of clients in both public and private sectors.
He has supported and managed numerous business improvement projects providing research, new product development, marketing and strategic vision to add value to current and new operations.
Huw retains a passion for the opportunities presented within the environmental and rural sectors.
Alun Lewis
Finance Director
A Chartered Management Accountant, Alun has over 25 years experience in finance from hands on operation of financial systems to financial directorship of Redrow, a FTSE 250 company, and management of subsidiary companies.
He has worked in industries as diverse as construction, leisure, manufacturing, steel, oil, chemicals and property development. He currently holds directorships at a number of SME’s and has contributed in the establishment of several others.
With a wealth of practical experience and proven analytical skills, he contributes effectively to strategic and financial projects for BIC clients, undertaking feasibility studies, business planning, introducing financial systems, financial mentoring and finance raising.
Bill Norris
Director of Mid Wales
For the past nine years Bill Norris has developed a network of nearly 200 manufacturing companies, helping them improve their operating performance and profitability.
Bill is a qualified Welsh Assembly Government Human Resource Development Advisor with considerable experience in operational management at strategic level. Bill’s other strengths are in manufacturing and design and he forms part of the BIC Innovation, Business Innovation Design Advisory team, working on an all Wales basis.
Bill’s knowledge of the issues faced by business has been brought to bear in the Powys Regeneration Partnership, where he has held the positions of Chair and Vice chair along with his most recent appointment as Vice Chair of the Central Wales Economic Forum. Bill is also a Director of Careers Wales Mid Glamorgan and Powys.
Previously Bill has held senior roles in manufacturing and the food industry and is experienced in delivering cultural change in highly competitive, customer focused environments, including United Biscuits, Laura Ashley and Rank Hovis McDougall.
Bill joins BIC innovation as Director of Mid Wales.
“Companies in Mid Wales face the same challenges as businesses located elsewhere, but often without the support that others take for granted. I am pleased to be able to build on the work of the last nine years, but with increased resourses available through my colleagues at BIC Innovation”.
Mike Gibson
Projects Development Manager
Mike delivers the support and expertise available from the Manufacturing Advisory Service to all manufacturers throughout North Wales.
MAS, under Mike in North Wales, is currently assisting over 100 manufacturers and generating projected added value of £3m to them.
Mike is well versed in quality system requirements, contractual agreements and budget management. As a former RAF squadron leader he has a sound understanding of a broad range of mechanical and electronic systems, their performance, certification, production and maintenance requirements.
Mike’s previous work as an aerospace engineer and project manager provides a strong background in quality systems, innovative projects, engineering science and management. A long standing member of the Association for Project Management, and a Prince II practitioner.
Jennifer Rao
Marketing Executive
Jennifer graduated in Psychology where she gained a valuable insight into observational consumer skills and research analysis techniques. At BIC Innovation, Jennifer has been heavily involved in a wide variety of research and marketing projects for clients including two major projects, MAS Wales and the all Wales School Meals Research project for the Welsh Assembly and Food Standards Agency, where she was lead researcher, with over 1,000 interviews undertaken.
As an experienced interviewer (B2B and Consumer), Jennifer undertakes both quantitative and qualitative research studies across a variety of sectors, including manufacturing, ICT, tourism and the environment.
As well as assisting clients with marketing, Jennifer manages BIC's promotional activities including events, communications, database management and promotions.
As a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Jennifer holds knowledge on the whole spectrum of marketing activity at a hands on level and has a great understanding of best practice in marketing.
Claire Lebrun
Quality Management Officer
After graduating in foreign languages (French, English, Spanish & German), Claire completed a postgraduate degree in business relationships & commerce (business studies, commercial translations, legislation, computer studies) in France. Claire has previously worked and studied in Austria for 2 years and also in Spain for 6 months.
Following a six-month work placement at BIC Innovation in 2008, Claire has joined the BIC Innovation team in January 2009 and has been involved in projects for a wide ranging selection of clients including Kingston University and Llwyddo yng Ngwynedd (Gwynedd Regional Development Plan Project).
Claire is an enthusiastic and organised project manager comfortable with detail whilst appreciating the bigger picture. She is very adept at seeking out and devising solutions to problems.
Claire is now leading a project to revise & improve BICs’ own Quality Management System. She also works on other quality projects for clients and assists as a researcher/ consultant on a wide variety of assignments.
Sylvia Targett
Office Administrator
Sylvia joins BIC Innovation as Office Administrator, working partly in the finance department, and administering the Arloesi Rural Development Projects.
Previously, Sylvia has worked for Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, Wales, a charitable organisation set up to help farmers in Wales and joins BIC Innovation from Cyngor Gwynedd Council, where she was the Support Officer for the Gwynedd Rural Development Projects.
She has a strong farming background, is a keen outdoor enthusiast and canoeist.
“BIC is a bright and dynamic company which I am looking forward to being part of and contributing to its success”
Sally Fenton
Business Innovation Design - Programme Co-ordinator
After completing an HNC in Business Administration, Sally has worked for ACL Limited, Buy As You View and South Wales Fire & Rescue Service in various roles.
Based in Pencoed, Sally is currently working as the Design Programme Co-Ordinator for the Business Innovation- Design project running in conjunction with The Welsh Assembly Government.
Sally co-ordinates the programme delivery by the team of Design Managers, manages information, reports and financial processes on the programme, organises, supports and promotes events and marketing activities and liaises regularly with the Welsh Assembly government.
Sally also supports the development of the Design, Innovation and Product Development community in Wales.
Anahita Baregheh
Research and Marketing Assistant
As part of our commitment to NPD Best Practices, BIC Innovation and the Bangor Business School (BBS) have forged a strategic research alliance and are collaborating in an exciting new initiative to fund a PhD and Internship Scholarship.
Originally from Iran, Anahita completed her Bachelor’s Degree in 2000 in Computer Engineering from Eastern Mediterranean University, located in North Cyprus. Following completion of her degree, she returned home to gain work experience, where her positions included a project coordinator in one of Irans leading engineering companies in oil, gas and petrochemical companies.
In 2006, Anahita decided to continue and further her education by studying for a MSc in Business and IT as Aston Business School, Aston University, where she focused on supply chain modelling and created a new taxonomy of supply chain modelling methods. She also has working knowledge of project coordination and web publishing as well as database design.
This 3 year PhD will focus on innovation processes in New Product Development. During her period at Bangor, Anahita will both contribute to our innovation projects on a part time basis, as well as continuing with her research in order to reflect a real time experience of the application of innovation in New Product Development.
Anahita has a particular interest in the impact of organisational culture and management in innovation and also the relationship between marketing and new product development.
Anahita commented “By combining research with hands on project involvement, my time with BIC and at BBS will provide an invaluable insight into the issues facing organisations in a competitive environment”.
Richard Roberts
Senior Associate
Richard is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years experience dealing with all aspects of SME activities in North Wales.
Previously a partner with a leading firm of Chartered Accountants, Richard is developing the Business Growth Services and Financial Strategic Development along with Alun Lewis, BIC Innovation Finance Director.
‘I am looking forward to using my experience in all aspects of financial management and reporting to develop links between a business’s production department and the management information system. This is an area often overlooked by traditional accountancy practices when designing systems. I also look forward to working with the BIC Innovation multi-disciplinary team for the benefit of our customers.’
Ian Clark
Senior Associate
Ian is an independent consultant who has been an Associate of BIC Innovation since 2006. He was previously MD of a specialist packaging company in England where he introduced a Total Quality culture, turning round a trend of decreasing customer service and profitability. Prior to that he spent thirty years with Unilever, in technical and general management positions.
Ian has considerable experience in managing projects, including new product development, construction and organisational change. He is a trained leadership coach as well as an expert in knowledge management. He is a Lean practitioner and has worked with the Manufacturing Advisory Service since 2006.
Ian has introduced ISO 9000 quality management systems into R&D organisations, and has led a team that invented, developed and launched a totally new consumer product within 6 months.
Currently, Ian is working with national retailers, a specialist food company, engineering companies, consultancy practices, academic institutions and the NHS.
Dafydd Roberts
Senior Associate
With a degree in Physics and Computer Science from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dafydd has over ten years experience as an Innovation and Technology Transfer specialist.
After Spending 4 years as an Innovation and Technology Counsellor, he spent a further six years as a technology programme manager with the Welsh Development Agency where he specialised in EU technology transfer and in EU "Framework" collaborative R&D projects.
Dafydd gained his industrial experience in laboratory automation and cargo handling systems where he worked in design, manufacture and Quality Management. Dafydd has a strong background in technical research and innovation.
Phil Jones
Senior Associate
A Member of the Institute of Leadership & Management, a Member of the Association for Project Management and a Fellow of the Faculty of Building, Philip has over 25 years experience in Multi- discipline Consultancy. He is extremely well versed in the co-ordination of the disparate strands of information and dealing with the potential conflicts that are an every day part of modern complex projects.
He has remained very much a “hands on” practitioner in multi-discipline project management and his experience of managing the Welsh regional offices of Ferguson McIlveen LLP and Scott Wilson Ltd has given him a particularly well informed understanding of the needs of clients in Wales and the West of England.
Philip has experience on projects in numerous sectors including; retail, industrial –both heavy and light engineering environments, fine chemical and pharmaceutical industries, food industry, medical appliance manufacturing, public sector projects for local authorities including, colleges, schools, major public buildings and regeneration projects, housing and property development, mining and mineral extraction.
He has managed and assisted in the introduction, improvement and running of Quality Management Systems to BS EN ISO 9001, Environmental Management Systems to BS EN ISO 14001, and Health and Safety Management Systems to OHAS 18001.
Philip is experienced in the delivery of training in project management and general management systems and processes.
Lyndon Jones
Senior Associate
Holding an MBA and being a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Lyndon has substantial industrial & consulting experience in applying marketing methods and competitive strategies to start-up businesses, new product development programmes and the revitalisation of mature businesses.
Lyndon also holds a physics degree, is a Chartered Engineer and a Chartered Physicist and has more than 20 years experience in high technology engineering; half in R&D on product development and half in product management, international B2B marketing and senior management team duties.
As the current Chairman of the Welsh Optoelectronics Forum, in early 2010 Lyndon led WOF on behalf of the 100+ cluster member businesses including BIC Innovation to recognition as Welsh Regional Winner in the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills’ National Cluster Mark Competition.
At BIC Innovation, Lyndon has contributed to the successful delivery of a variety of projects for private sector, public sector and higher education organisations, with a particular focus on the strategic aspects of projects with a strong technology element to them.
Andy Hinton
Senior Associate
A physicist by degree and an industrial engineer by experience, Andy is a LEAN practitioner and accomplished manufacturing consultant who has aided numerous small, medium and large enterprises.
Andy possess specialist knowledge in optical fibre manufacturing and processing, whilst also having a strong background in process and production engineering, development engineering, project management, quality systems and production control.
Andy is versatile across all sectors and has over 20 years experience in industry, having previously worked for global companies such as Pirelli Cables, Corning Cable Systems and Ocular Science
Hugh Samson
Senior Associate
A chemical engineering graduate, Hugh has a proven track record of project management in numerous sectors, and can call upon over 20 years of high-level experience.
He has held senior positions in sales and export management at British Bata Ltd, was managing director at County Footwear UK and prior to entering consultancy was general manager of the industrial products division and independent dealer network at Brother Industries.
Hugh is a specialist in business planning, modelling and development, and has assisted in the establishment and growth of many businesses of varying sizes.
Richard Elmitt
Senior Associate
Having graduated in Biochemistry, Richard has worked extensively in the Food Industry at Senior Level.
He has been active in both B2B and retail sectors, working with a wide range of customers from Blue Chip to individuals. He has a wealth of experience in Strategic Planning, Manufacturing, Product Development, Human Resources and Commercial aspects of business.
Most recently Richard was CEO of South Caernarfon Creameries, the largest independent Cooperative in Wales, where he worked with BIC on innovative packing and processing for Dairy Products.