Prof. Dale Sanders
Interim Chairman

After a successful career at the University of York, during which time he was awarded the Koerber European Science Prize and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, Dale left his post as Head of the Biology Department in 2010 to become Director of the John Innes Centre, from whence Leaf Expression Systems emerged.

Dr. Colin Miles
Non Executive Director

Dr Colin Miles is Head of the Strategy and team leader for the Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy sector at BBSRC. His current role is to lead a team in BBSRC to help increase the capacity and capability of the UK academic base in research, training and knowledge exchange activities in UK industrial biotechnology and bioenergy research.

David Simpson
Non Executive Director

David co-founded Iksuda Therapeutics (formerly Glythera) in 2012, refocusing it into an Antibody Drug Conjugate development company underpinned by its proprietary technology platforms. Prior to Iksuda, David led Actavis’s biosimilar programmes (now Allergan) and started his industrial career developing expression systems with Cobra Biomanufacturing before moving to Eden Biodesign Ltd where he led its Process Development capabilities.

John Burt
Non Executive Director
John Burt is currently CEO of Medherant Limited, developing transdermal patch products for a range of indications. He was previously CEO of Abzena plc, a contract research, development and manufacturing organization, where he led multiple financing rounds, including an AIM IPO in 2014, and grew the business by acquisitions in the UK and US. He was previously co-founder and CEO of Thiakis, a company that he sold to Wyeth in 2008. John has degrees in Natural Sciences and Molecular Biology from the universities of Cambridge and Oxford, respectively, and qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant. His early career included finance, business and corporate development roles with Vanguard Medica, Glaxo Wellcome / GlaxoSmithKline and Imperial Innovations.
Georgina Pope
Non Executive Director
Georgina is a Technology Transfer Manager for Plant Bioscience Limited. Georgina has a wealth of experience in venture formation and support, holding positions on a number of spin-out company boards for PBL and previously for the University of East Anglia, where she was an Intellectual Property Manager. Georgina is also an Investment Executive Member for the Iceni Seedcorn Fund. Georgina has a background in life science research and holds a PhD in Microbiology.