London, England, United Kingdom
Being visually impaired and obtaining a PhD in the mobility of visually impaired people at Imperial College London, I am driven by the life-changing potential of my research and its impact on assistive technology. I leverage my findings in the development of the WeWALK smart cane, a TIME best invention, through managing multi-million pound R&D collaborations with world-leading partners. I also regularly advise on transport accessibility and sit on TfL's IDAG advisory board for disability and inclusion, as well as conducting novel mobility research that has been recognised through an Imperial College Medal for Outstanding Achievement, the Walter Redlich Prize for Academic Excellence, and the Royal Institute of Navigation for an Outstanding Contribution to a More Navigable World. I am very passionate about public speaking and have pitched at several international events, including Unbound London, Microsoft Future Decoded, TIP Summit, and the House of Commons. I also greatly enjoy music production and own an independent label. The guitar and piano are my instruments of choice and I have been playing both for over 15 years.
Chief Innovation Officer at WeWALK, driving the company’s innovation across all of its products and services in assistive technology for visually impaired mobility. This role includes: - Leadership across the organisation and its R&D partners to create new products and a culture of innovation. - Steering the vision and execution of the company’s innovation roadmap, ensuring alignment with business objectives. - Securing high-impact projects, managing multi-million-pound international funding from industry leaders including Innovate UK, Connected Places Catapult, Investor Partnerships, EIC Accelerator, and Microsoft. - Representing WeWALK on global stages, engaging with investors, media, and key stakeholders at prestigious venues including parliament, YGA Summit, Connected Places Summit, LSX World Congress, and more. - Overseeing WeWALK’s research initiatives, commissioning user trials and advanced experimental methods to enhance the technical capabilities and user experience of WeWALK products. - Driving collaborative efforts with leading institutions including Imperial College London and RNIB for product development and growth. - Fundraising and investor engagements with Nesta, KHP, and other VCs to raise WeWALK’s profile and close successful funding rounds. - Developing and implementing strategies for intellectual property management to protect and leverage WeWALK’s innovations. - Identifying and integrating emerging technologies to stay ahead of industry trends.
Head of R&D and ExCo member at WeWALK, developing the most advanced smart cane and smartphone app for visually impaired mobility. This role includes: - Team leadership to ensure efficient international team management and a clear roadmap for the organisation. - Grant writing and project management of multi-million-pound Microsoft and UKRI-funded innovation projects. - Public speaking and pitching to investors, press, and high-profile audiences, including events at the House of Commons and 10 Downing Street. - Research into the technical and diagnostics applications of WeWALK, including mobility studies featuring visually impaired users in different operational scenarios. - Product development and seeking collaborations with other industry leaders including Imperial College London and the RNIB. - Client and customer liaison to acquire feedback and set product development goals.
Honorary associateship in recognition of extensive research, collaboration, and contribution to Imperial College London. This role involves: - Leading research and practical experimentation in technology and accessibility alongside top-tier scholars, focusing on transport, navigation, and computer vision. - Mentoring students, drawing from WeWALK's success and innovative pursuits. - Bridging academia and industrial research projects (UKRI Smart, Healthy Ageing, and SBRI grants), ensuring impactful, real-world research relevance. - Promoting campus inclusivity and accessibility across departments.
Advisory board member assisting TfL in improving the accessibility and inclusivity of London's transport network. This includes meeting with stakeholders, project sponsors, and various teams across TfL to assess customer impact and propose improvements. Projects range from improving staff training to rail station redevelopment.
Label, musician and producer under FM-JM. Available on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon and more. - Over 15 years of expertise in Guitar and Piano. - Published and represented by a PRO. - Extensive knowledge and practical application of advanced recording, mixing, and mastering techniques.
Advisory role with the YGA in developing, implementing, and pitching social innovation programs for bright young minds. This includes speaking to students on leadership and social innovation, as well as at conferences including TechShare Pro and Bett Conference 2019.