The High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVM Catapult) has appointed three new non-executive directors to its board, strengthening its leadership as it looks to support UK industry through a period of transformation.
Dame Helen Atkinson, Dr Anna Floyer-Lea and Dr Stella Peace bring experience spanning academia, finance, innovation policy and industrial R&D, with a focus on commercialising emerging technologies and scaling advanced manufacturing businesses.
The trio will provide oversight and strategic input as the organisation advances priorities including the clean energy transition, national security capability, industrial sustainability and health innovation.
Experience across industry and academia
Dame Helen Atkinson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Engineering and Applied Sciences at Cranfield University and a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, brings extensive academic expertise in manufacturing and materials, alongside experience supporting national research infrastructure.
Dr Anna Floyer-Lea previously served as CFO of BP Ventures and Launchpad at BP, and has held senior roles in both HM Revenue and Customs and HM Treasury, where she focused on research and innovation policy to support commercialisation of intellectual property.
Dr Stella Peace joins following her role as Managing Director at Innovate UK and previous leadership positions at Unilever and Nomad Foods, where she worked on translating R&D into commercially viable products and strengthening global supply chains.
Board transition at ‘pivotal time’
The appointments follow the departure of Professor Andy Neely, Andy Jones and Rob Shaw, who are stepping down after completing their terms on the board.
Steve Bagshaw, chair of HVM Catapult, thanked the outgoing directors for their contribution to the organisation’s development as an innovation hub and delivery partner for the UK’s industrial strategy.
“I am delighted that three directors of such exceptional calibre have joined the HVM Catapult Board at this pivotal time for UK manufacturing. Their knowledge and expertise will be instrumental as we strengthen our programmes and partnerships, create global opportunities and use innovation as an engine of sustainable growth.”
– Steve Bagshaw, chair of HVM Catapult.
Supporting UK manufacturing transformation
The new appointees emphasised the role of the Catapult network in supporting innovation-led growth and strengthening UK manufacturing capability.
Dame Helen Atkinson said the organisation has a “crucial role to play” in addressing national priorities and supporting resilience across the sector.
Dr Anna Floyer-Lea added that HVM Catapult is “a cornerstone of the UK’s industrial innovation landscape”, helping to accelerate the commercialisation of advanced manufacturing technologies.
Dr Stella Peace described the wider Catapult network as a “vital national asset”, highlighting its role in bringing together expertise to scale innovation and deliver industrial impact.
The appointments come as the UK manufacturing sector continues to navigate challenges around productivity, supply chain resilience and digital transformation, with organisations such as HVM Catapult playing a central role in bridging the gap between research and commercial deployment.
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