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Position: I am the CEO and Co-founder of ViridiCO₂™

Background:

I have long understood the threat of climate change and how, without making huge changes, continued greenhouse pollution would lead to global catastrophic disasters. As I progressed through education, it became clear that there were no technologies capable of addressing the ensuing climate disaster.
As an undergraduate at Southampton University, I studied under Robert Raja and much inspiration was derived from his module on ‘sustainable chemistry and designing catalysts capable of making industrial processes cleaner and more energy efficient’. Having completed my undergraduate, I sat down with Robert and what became clear was that my PHD should be meaningful and impactful, building on work he had taught. Together we decided to focus on methods to utilise carbon dioxide.

Project Involvement:

ViridiCO₂™ technology was conceived during my Ph.D. Very early on, we developed a process which could turn waste CO₂ into a variety of high-value chemical intermediates. This technology means that manufacturers can replace traditional petrochemicals whilst producing greener, more sustainable products.

Right now:

We are working with early adopter customers and scaling our technology to ensure we provide a commercially viable proposition.

Future Hopes:

My vision is to successfully transform industries from highly polluting into clean, sustainable eco-systems.

Position: Development Chemist

Background:

I’m from Jersey in the Channel Islands and came to Southampton to pursue a Master’s degree in Chemistry. Since sixth form, I have taken a keen interest in Chemistry, in particular I have been interested in the design and study of nanomaterials and their applications. During my Chemistry Masters Degree at Southampton University, I brought together traditional organic and inorganic chemistry techniques to template metal organic frameworks. I completed my Masters thesis in Spain at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, where I worked on functionalising silica surfaces with photoactive organic films. Since then, I have completed a PhD in the Raja Group in Southampton, sponsored by TotalEnergies, during which I studied how different design parameters affected the properties of heterogeneous catalysts.

Project Involvement:

At ViridiCO₂™ I am responsible for the application development of our technology. This can encompass quite a broad spectrum of duties; one day I might be working on organic chemistry, and the next I’ll be concentrating on inorganic chemistry.

Right now:

I can safely say that I have never had a boring day so far, which is why I love working in research and development.

Future Hopes:

I would love to still be a part of meaningful innovation with my work in the future. I have high hopes that ViridiCO₂™ technology can be successfully scaled up and that in the not too distant future we will be taking on more meaningful challenges. Ultimately, I would like to see manufacturers tackle climate change and reach net zero, or net negative by 2050.

Position: Development Chemist

Background:

During early education, my introduction to the concept of pollution resulted in the perspective that any by-products of chemical processes are inherently not useful and introduce ecological challenges. This perspective has radically shifted as I progressed through education, as my exposure to the various ways in which by-products can be incorporated into downstream processes.
In particular, my MChem project on the ‘dry reforming of methane’ showed me that even Carbon Dioxide can be used in the manufacture of useful materials. This helped to broaden my horizons in terms of my understanding of how pollutants can be turned into feedstocks by development of the relevant technologies. My PhD project was under the supervision of Prof Robert Raja at the University of Southampton, and he helped me develop my knowledge of heterogeneous catalyst systems and their application in the synthesis of polymer feedstocks.

Project Involvement:

Whilst working in the Raja lab, my intrigue with the use of CO₂ as a chemical feedstock was rekindled through talking with Dan about his work. He explained how he was using CO₂ as a feedstock for the synthesis of useful polymer materials. I knew immediately that I wanted to get involved with this kind of work.

Right now:

Currently implementing a scaling solution to meet the requirements of some early adopters.

Future Hopes:

As much CO₂ in everyday materials as possible!

Position: Administrator

Background:

I studied History at the University of Southampton and then went on to complete a Masters’ in Art Gallery and Museum Studies at the University of Manchester. Having completed my Masters in the middle of a pandemic, it quickly became clear that getting a starter job in a tourism-driven sector was going to be difficult. Instead, I decided to develop my skills (and also retain my sanity!) by taking work in another sector. I initially worked for the University of Southampton’s Chemistry department as the administrator for an EU Horizons 2020 project, before joining ViridiCO₂™ in late 2021.

Project Involvement:

As the company administrator, I do a lot of the behind-the-scenes work to keep the team on track. I sit in the centre of everything, and no two weeks look the same. Right now, I’m in the middle of double checking our HR procedures ahead of new development.

Right now:

In a typical week, however, tasks might include arranging company meetings or external visits, managing our social media presence and keeping track of the company budget, as well as anything else that comes across my desk.

Future Hopes:

I’d like to see the world take real action against climate change. Apart from that, I’m not sure yet. I’m just waiting to see where life takes me.

Position: Professor of Materials Chemistry & Catalysis | University of Southampton | Co-founder and Chief Scientific Advisor of ViridiCO₂™ | Deputy Head of School (Research & Enterprise)

Background:

I have over 25 years’ experience in atomic scale design of heterogeneous catalysts and have worked with multinational chemical and pharmaceutical companies to successfully licence and commercialise catalyst technologies. Developing sustainable catalytic technologies, which mitigate the generation of greenhouse gases, such as CO₂ has been core to our research vision and strategy. For the past 6 years, we have been working on the predictive design of platform catalysts for Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technologies, where we have developed novel materials for the direct conversion of CO₂ to fuels.

Project Involvement:

Daniel Stewart’s Ph.D project developed from using this predictive catalytic platform, which in turn led to the discovery of novel heterogeneous catalysts that could be deployed for the conversion of waste CO₂ into polymers and other valuable chemicals. From a research perspective, it was quite satisfying to see a fundamental concept that we developed in the laboratory, now being commercially deployed by ViridiCO₂™, to provide industrial decarbonisation solutions, in our quest for Net Zero carbon emissions.

Right now:

As ViridiCO₂™ pushes on the commercial front, we will be expanding the scope of our research to integrate our CO₂ utilisation solutions with other emerging technologies, such as green hydrogen, with a view to incorporating our predictive catalyst design platform in a wider range of sustainable technologies.

Future Hopes:

The chemical industry still relies heavily on fossil fuels as feedstock for the manufacture of bulk chemicals. Using our catalytic platform technology to harness renewable feedstocks and combining this with our CO₂ utilisation technology could pave the way for closing the carbon loop in the future.

Position: Chairman

Background:

After completing a first degree in physics and a doctorate in theoretical physics at Oxford, I returned to ICI, where I had previously taken a gap year pre-university. I progressed through a series of technical / manufacturing roles culminating in a 5 year spell as Manufacturing Director of a USA division. After 5 years in a larger role with a division of FMC, I joined a joint-venture of Monsanto and Akzo Nobel to become VP of Manufacturing & Technology, a global role based in Belgium. In 2005, I returned to the UK and began working with university spinouts, initially Oxford Catalysts (now Velocys plc) and later in non-executive roles with Oxford Biotrans, NiTech Solutions and HydRegen. During this period I also spent time with Innovate UK (then TSB) where I led the Manufacturing team and set up / initially led the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, later helping set up and now chairing the board of the Republic of Ireland’s equivalent (Irish Manufacturing Research). I am a Board and Council member of the Chemical Industries Association.

Project Involvement:

I was introduced to the ViridiCO₂™ business proposition as a member of the Dragon’s Den that assessed Dan’s winning submission to the RSC’s Emerging Technologies Competition in 2020. Subsequently I helped with the preparation for spin-out and the development of the business plan.

Right now:

As Chairman of the Board, I see my principal role as one of coaching and mentoring Dan, enabling him to benefit from my network of contacts in the chemical industry.

Future Hopes:

Play a part in the creation of a company that can have a meaningful impact on the planet by enabling clients around the globe to incorporate captured CO₂ emissions into valuable chemical intermediates.