Favourite holiday destination?
Somewhere in the mountains.
What car do you drive?
A Tesla Model Y.
How and when did you get into this industry?
Coming from the North East of Scotland I grew up doing a lot of sailing around the coast of Britain, and even to Norway. I was a big fan of round the world sailor Ellen McArthur and decided I wanted to study yacht design at Southampton University, which has a top engineering department. My degree course opened my eyes to engineering more generally and as part of my course I was involved in designing optimisation software to help Team GB athletes maximise performance for the 2012 Olympics in London. The work helped many of the teams improve their equipment choice and refine their race strategies in a more efficient way. It was highly successful as Team GB won a lot of medals and the experience changed my life.
Tell us a bit more about Dynamon and what you do?
Dynamon is a software development company that specialises in developing advanced data analytics and simulation tools for commercial transport and logistics companies. When forming the company I wanted to take what I had learned at the Olympics into a much bigger field. Every transport company is facing cost pressures so we developed our ZERO software which helps CV operators optimise their transition to and operation of battery electric vehicles. The cost of new electric vehicles and their capabilities are very different to diesel with the additional factor being the need to use charging infrastructure. It’s about helping commercial vehicle operators go to electric vehicles as quickly as possible and get the benefits of them. Similar to technology used by F1 teams, the software can help operators simulate how EVs would work in their businesses. When you run EVs, you need to use them in the right way. Also, one of Dynamon’s biggest customers is BP and they have made a financial investment in the company. We are also looking to accelerate the development of our products and sell them in new markets such as Europe and North America.
What are your industry predictions for the next 12 months?
Electrification is happening, it is the future and is ramping up with car and van manufacturers being mandated to sell an increasing proportion of EVs over the next few years. We know the change is happening and companies need to plan ahead to be ready for the change.
What is the strangest or most challenging job you have done?
The Olympics experience in 2012, but in a good way. It gave me the opportunity to work with all sorts of experts including clothing designers. It was very interesting being involved in producing the aerodynamic suits for the UK athletes.
If you had your time again, would you have followed the same career path?
100% – very much in the right career.
If you had been reincarnated, who or what do you think you were in a past life?
I don’t think like that at all!
If you could invite four people to a dinner party – living or dead – who would they be – and why?
- . Elon Musk – probably the most important person of our generation in both business and technology.
- . Warren Buffett – Most successful investor of all time, has an incredible understanding of economics and business.
- . Theodore Roosevelt – Nature lover, rancher, soldier, businessperson, American President, and the orator of my favourite quotes.
- . Ferdinand Magellan – achieved the first European navigation to Asia going west via the Pacific. I think we forget how courageous these explorers were – venturing into the complete unknown for years on end. Even going to new planets will be far less risky than these original expeditions.
What are your passions outside the workplace?
Spending time with my friends and family, rock climbing, sailing, and running. Rock climbing is an awesome physical and mental challenge and you get to experience some of the most beautiful places in the world. Running keeps you fit and is quite therapeutic. Sailing gives you the opportunity to see amazing places.
If they made a film about your life who would play you?
Whilst I’d like to say Matthew McConaughey it is probably Jessie Eisenberg!
Describe yourself in words?
Determined, curious, I love working with great people.
