Our team
Our team is built to think differently. We’ve come to ARIA from start-ups, non-profits, venture capital, and the public sector, united by a shared belief in the power of science to transform society.
Programme Directors
Our Programme Directors join us for three years to design a programme around their own scientific or technical vision, and then fund and direct a portfolio of projects to make it a reality. Our second cohort of PDs will join ARIA in April 2025.
Gemma Bale
Gemma is a biomedical physicist. Currently an Assistant Professor of Medical Therapeutics + Head of the Neuro Optics Lab at the University of Cambridge, her work focuses on developing non-invasive brain monitoring in real-world environments where traditional brain monitoring isn’t usually possible.
Suraj Bramhavar
Suraj is an electrical engineer. His work focuses on how we can redefine the way computers process information to build dramatically more efficient computers. Suraj joined ARIA from Sync Computing, where he was co-founder and CTO, which optimises the use of modern cloud computing resources.
David 'davidad' Dalrymple
davidad is a software engineer with a multidisciplinary background. He’s spent five years formulating a vision for how mathematical approaches could guarantee reliable and trustworthy AI. davidad co-invented the top-40 cryptocurrency Filecoin.
Angie Burnett
Angie is a plant biologist and has spent the last decade focusing on understanding the power of plants to solve some of our most pressing challenges such as food insecurity, climate change and environmental degradation. Previously, Angie was a Research Associate at the University of Cambridge.
Jenny Read
Jenny is a visual neuroscientist, previously trained in theoretical astrophysics. Her work focuses on how we can build smarter bodies for robots through new modes of sensing, transmission of sensory information, and actuation through hardware advances.
Mark Symes
Mark is an electrochemist, with a 15-year career developing sustainable fuels in the drive towards net zero. He joined ARIA from the University of Glasgow, where he is Professor of Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Technology.
Sarah Bohndiek
Sarah is a biomedical physicist – currently a Professor of Biomedical Physics at the University of Cambridge, she is jointly appointed in the Department of Physics and the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.
Jacques Carolan
Jacques is an applied physicist and neuroscientist. He spent a decade building quantum computing technologies before pivoting into systems neuroscience where he developed optical technologies to understand living brains. Before ARIA, Jacques was a BBSRC Discovery Fellow at University College London.
Executive Team
Ilan Gur
Chief Executive Officer
Ilan founded Activate.org, an organisation that empowers scientists and engineers to bring groundbreaking research to market. Prior to this, Ilan built two science-based startups and served as a founding Programme Director at ARPA-E.
Antonia Jenkinson
Chief Finance and Operating Officer
Antonia served as CFO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority. Prior to this, she was CFO/COO in various private sector organisations after a career in corporate finance and private equity with Apax Partners/Altium Capital.
Pippy James
Chief Product Officer
Pippy was previously founder and CEO of a women’s health startup. She was also Global Product Manager at Entrepreneur First, which supports the creation of technology companies internationally.
Dan Cole
Chief of Staff
Dan served as COO at UK healthtech startup Accurx, which supported the care of over 50 million NHS patients. Prior to this, Dan worked in strategy consulting focusing on sustainability.
Board and Advisors
ARIA has been established with a set of unique statutory authorities and significant autonomy, and needs global reach, ambition and perspectives across sectors and disciplines to create massive benefit for the UK.
Our Board and Advisors bring the diverse experience and responsible governance essential to ARIA's success.
Directors
Jazz Kang
Director of Programme Finance
Jazz started his career and qualified as an accountant in audit and spent several years in corporate finance, largely with SMEs. Following this he joined Satellite Applications Catapult.
Cat Townley
Director of People Operations
Cat joined ARIA from the Freedom Fund - a catalyst in the global effort to end modern slavery. Here, she built their HR function, spanning 11 countries. Previously, Cat led the HR team in a tech startup, and has also worked with trafficking survivors in a residential programme.
Mike Tsang
Director of Finance and Accounts
Mike joined ARIA from the Francis Crick Institute, where he built out their finance team through a rapid growth phase. He started his career in Big Four financial services audit before moving to the non-profit sector.
Clara Zabludowsky
Director of Communications and Engagement
Clara joined from WPP where she worked with multilateral organisations and corporates on their communications strategies.
Tammy Thomas Brown
Director of Procurement and Contracts
Tammy’s career spans the private and public sector. She joined ARIA having previously worked at two unicorn software startups, including Rebellion Defense, where she established and led the UK procurement and contracts team.
Our functional teams
Our Programme Directors are supported by a Programme Specialist (P-Spec) and Technical Specialist (T-Spec); this is the nucleus of each programme team. P-Specs co-ordinate and oversee the project management of their respective programmes, whilst T-Specs provide highly specialised and targeted technical expertise to support programmatic rigour. P-Specs support ARIA as Operating Partners from Pace, a change and transformation business consultancy specialising in process and system design.
Our Product team builds the initiatives that ARIA uses to drive impact from breakthrough R&D. From the design of our programmes and opportunity seed funding mechanism to Activation Partnerships, the Product team works across the organisation and with the wider R&D ecosystem to drive impact.
Our Procurement and Contracts team is the driving force behind setting ARIA programmes in motion. They use innovative contracting and grant mechanisms to channel funding effectively while ensuring responsible stewardship of public funds.
Our Communications and Engagement team helps to build bridges between ARIA and the outside world. They work to spread the word about ARIA's research and funding opportunities, elevate ARIA's presence in the R&D ecosystem, and build our identity as an organisation.
The Finance Operations team ensures a robust financial foundation for ARIA by implementing essential policies, overseeing controls, and safeguarding against fraud. They ensure smooth day-to-day financial operations by managing core finance functions such as accounts payable, payroll, and tax compliance.
The Programme Finance team drives ARIA’s financial planning and strategic oversight for impactful and adaptive programme management. They manage budgeting for programmes, opportunity seeds, and Activation Partners and ensure alignment with ARIA’s goals.
Our People Operations team is responsible for hiring world-class talent that helps continue to drive ARIA’s mission forward. They also work to deliver a high standard of people service to the ARIA team; creating a supportive and engaging culture, leading on ED&I initiatives, and consistently looking for ways to empower each individual.
The Executive Office is the team dedicated to supporting ARIA's leadership team. This includes managing ARIA's governance, organisational coordination, strategic planning, and internal communications. They work on and across the organisation to drive improvements in how we work. The Executive Office also leads ARIA's ethics and social responsibility efforts.
Delivery Office
The Delivery Office provides the frameworks, tools, and support needed to coordinate and oversee ARIA’s R&D portfolio delivery. This includes establishing project and programme management frameworks, ensuring clear governance, and facilitating cross-functional collaboration. They play a key role in keeping programmes on track and aligned with ARIA’s goals.
Legal
The Legal team provides strategic and operational legal advice to ARIA's leadership, functional teams, and programmes. It helps ARIA to manage legal risk, navigate practical challenges and maximise opportunities.
Join our team
We're looking for people who are excited by new possibilities and eager to leave their mark on the world to help drive our mission forward. Whether you’re new to this field, returning to work after a break, or ready for the next step in your career, we want you on our radar.