Incubators

Harry is the founder of the Science Creates ecosystem and Managing Partner of SCVC – the official venture capital arm of our ecosystem. He is a scientist, entrepreneur and investor, and the co-founder of Ziylo, the hugely successful University of Bristol spin-out company. Harry is passionate about building great companies and providing the optimum ecosystem to facilitate their growth and development.

Ashley has been with Science Creates from the very beginning, joining us when St Philips was still an empty warehouse! He has been involved in laboratory establishment, management and running for over 10 years, following his PhD and Post-doctorate work in chemistry. Not afraid to get stuck in, Ash brings a wealth of hands-on experience. When not ensuring our incubators are run seamlessly, Ash can be found out in countryside or restoring one of his ancient Land Rovers.

Charlie works across each department of Science Creates, overseeing daily operations, processes and HR as we grow. Formally a primary school teacher here in inner-city Bristol, she is passionate about making sure all young people have access to enjoy and learn from the world around them. As a result, Charlie founded and now runs Science Creates Outreach – our STEM education charity. When she’s not inspiring the next generation of scientists, Charlie is outdoors, camping and exploring new places. 

Focused on all things Innovation and Partnerships, Francis brings a wealth of experience gained from multiple roles across research, VC, funding and deep tech startups. Originally an organic chemist, Francis works on various projects including, scientific outreach for young adults, brewing, drumming and fermentation in his free time.

Paula, a chartered accountant, brings a wealth of experience in financial management and corporate finance and will be heading up the finance team at the Science Creates ecosystem, supporting it as it grows at pace. Outside of work she can mostly be found in her allotment, where she grows a variety of produce, including flowers. Having lived in Bristol for many years, she is also passionate about the wider Bristol community and is a Trustee of Bristol Charities, a charity which primarily provides social housing for the elderly residents of Bristol.

Patrick is a founding team member of Science Creates and an award-winning ARB registered architect with 10 years of experience. He delivers projects that balance high-quality design, user experience, cost and sustainability, working at all stages of the project lifecycle, from business case, planning, and architectural design to marketing and facilities management.

Responsible for providing the best experience to our members, staff, visitors and clients, Edda manages our events and event spaces. From a 100-person networking event to a small gathering by the terrace, she uses her expert knowledge from her degree in Business and Marketing and Level 4 diploma in Event Management, to shape perfect experiences. Edda believes that an event goes beyond the moment. It can build your businesses, no matter the size, and a good experience says more than words. 

With a degree in chemistry and extensive experience of teaching science to students from Key Stages 2-5, especially those with SEND needs, Ben brings his passion for education to his role as Head of Outreach. Content and resource development, classroom pedagogy and communication skills allow him to develop meaningful experiences for young people. Ben’s creative flair is exercised not only through his work for the charity, but also his love of writing, cookery and music.

Lucy completed a Ph.D and postdoc in Molecular Cell Biology and has extensive experience in science communication. Within Science Creates, Lucy uses her passion for biology and scientific community building to oversee the successful delivery of the accelerator programme and support the growing deep tech ecosystem in Bristol.

With a background in Science Communication, Aida brings a wealth of experience supporting science, innovation and technology-focused organisations in reaching a variety of audiences. At Science Creates, she will continue to shout from the rooftops about the growing deep tech community’s mission and achievements. Outside of work, Aida is all about long runs, bikepacking and even some ultradistance bike racing.

Germinal has over 20 years of experience working in science, working as a Researcher in Synthetic Chemistry, Chemical Safety Advisor, Lab Manager and Research Technical Manager. With broad expertise in Good Laboratory Practice and Health & Safety, he oversees the operation and maintenance of our buildings and their services as the Facilities Lead at Science Creates. His interests outside of work revolve around music, movies and nature.

Stevan is the Maintenance Manager overseeing the smooth running of the maintenance department at both St Phillips and Old Market incubators. He worked as a maintenance manager in healthcare for 12 years and brings a broad range of experience with him. Outside of work he enjoys walking, running, cycling, trying lots of different sports and recently started to learn stand up paddleboarding. 

Holly is committed to ensuring our incubators are run smoothly with a specific focus on helping our members with laboratory inquiries. As part of the facilities team, she also dedicates her time to building maintenance and reducing our environmental impact. Holly has a Masters degree in Conservation and Biodiversity with a specific interest in ethology and ornithology. 

Dedicated to ensuring all IT infrastructure and networking runs smoothly, James is motivated to ensure that all things IT across the Science Creates incubators remain secure and operational. With a professional background in Cloud Computing, Encryption and Digital Security practices, James is also a keen music producer with an avid interest in horticulture.

With experience in IT-managed services, Daragh provides IT support to the Science Creates ecosystem. He’s passionate about technology and enjoys solving complex IT challenges. In his free time, he nurtures his creativity by playing the guitar.

Katie comes from a Front of House, Hospitality, background in the UK and Spain, where she lived for 9 years.  Within Science Creates you’ll mainly find her at the Old Market reception welcoming and assisting members and visitors, or helping with events.  In her spare time she likes to explore near & far with her partner and two young children, renovate their home and relax through yoga & cooking as she has a love for, and interest in, good food.

With degrees in chemistry and science communication, Rachel combines her scientific background with her broad PR experience and artistic creativity to tell the stories from across the Science Creates community through impactful digital content. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys playing and coaching hockey, soaking up Bristol’s live music scene, and producing commissioned artwork.

Lily boasts a well-rounded skill set in organisation, administration, and logistics, cultivated through diverse roles—from coordinating festivals and events to managing office and operations for SMEs. As a key support figure for the team and CEO, Lily has rapidly become the office’s primary resource for all administrative matters, showcasing her dynamic capabilities.

An Executive Assistant based at both St Phillips and Old Market, Sapphire provides support to the Science Creates team and our COO, Charlie Proctor. With a background in law and academia, Sapphire brings with her a wealth of organisational and problem-solving skills. In her spare time, Sapphire enjoys running, attending music festivals and exploring different cuisines.

Nathan is our point of contact for any maintenance or facilities related operations at our Old Market Incubator. Nathan has  a NVQ/Diploma level 1,2 & 3 in Carpentry, as well as bringing multiple trade experiences from past employment. His commitment is to ensure that the Incubators stay looking tip-top and operational for the Science Creates community. In his spare time, Nathan is into his sports and outdoor activities like walking, running and cycling.

Gareth is the maintenance assistant located at the St. Phillips incubator, taking charge of keeping the building and grounds operational, presentable and safe. With a varied work history from building maintenance and car restoration, to the erection of large stage structures and sound engineering at events. In his spare time, Gareth loves making music, mountain biking, woodwork projects and collecting minerals while exploring.

Abida is the incubators assistant, working across both St Philips and Old Market. She can often be found at front desk, helping out at reception, or lending a hand to the facilities team – from big projects to little jobs, she will get the task done!  Abida is committed to keeping both buildings spick and span, and running smoothly. In her spare time, she’s a homebody who loves reading and researching to learn about things around the world.

As Chairman of our Incubators business, Keith has supervisory responsibility for overall strategy, performance and governance. He is also closely involved in the corporate finance and legal aspects of running the incubators as well as overseeing accounting and budgeting. Keith acts as a mentor to staff and to supports our business efforts in any way he can.