Programme Speakers
Ed Metcalfe
Ed joined the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) in 2002, and is Head of the Science, Technology, Entrepreneurship & Management team. The team focuses on the development of the skills needed for a knowledge economy, and encouragement of business innovation, through greater engagement with the knowledge base. Recent team projects include multiversities at Medway and Hastings, a demand-led innovation advisory service, an Innovation Platform collaboration on intelligent transport, and with e-Skills UK, developing Computer Clubs for Girls.
Ed is chair of the SCI (Society of Chemical Industry), and has a national RDA lead role for regional Science and Innovation, through partnership working with the DTI.
He grew up in Manchester and studied in Nottingham, gaining his PhD in biophysical chemistry. Much of his career has been in academia - he was Head of the School of Chemical and Life Sciences at the University of Greenwich for 10 years, where he also directed a spin-out company and the ACOL/ BIOTOL open learning unit for analytical chemistry and biotechnology. He was a Professor of Materials Chemistry and his most recent research has been in chemometrics and in fire retardant materials.
When time permits, Ed enjoys reading, music, walking, DIY and is a keen gardener.
