Mark Barnett

Title

Business Engagement Officer

Contact Details

Tel: (024) 7615 0577
Email: M.A.Barnett@warwick.ac.uk

Role

Mark received his BSc in Solid State Physics from University of Birmingham in 1994, where he then continued with a PhD in Semiconductor and Superconductor Thin Film Growth Methods and Analysis Technologies with CASE sponsorship from QinetiQ (Malvern).

In 1997, became a permanent employee of QinetiQ (Farnborough), applying and developing advanced instrumentation and analysis technologies to Structural Materials, a post which allowed him to contribute to the chemical understanding of many diverse technologies, such as Corrosion Protection in metals, MMC Tank and Airframe armour, aluminium alloy development for advanced fighter airframes (in particular the Eurofighter), HCN technologies for biological warfare, Titanium-Hydrides for Metal-Hydrogen fuel cells, and Copper-BSCCO high-temperature superconductivity wires for battlefield communication.

In 1999, seconded to MoD in Whitehall, with responsibility for Research Priority Theme establishment (TGs i-iv) and procurement within DTI Technology Groups to both QinetiQ, UK Defence Industry (in particular BAE Systems) and UK Academia (in particular through Materials Development CASE studentships).

From 2001-2005, based in Silicon Valley, CA, directing product-development at Gatan Inc of Electron Loss and Imaging Spectrometers, Ultra-High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopes and CCD Imaging Cameras to US Academia (in particular Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and UC Berkeley) and to US Defence Industry (in particular Lockheed Martin and Raytheon)

In 2005, returned to UK to head the Electron Optical Analysis group at Bruker AXS, with responsibility for product development, budget, service delivery, application development, and marketing. Generated and successfully implemented a 24-month business growth plan, including extensive collaboration between Bruker and UK Industry (for example, Rolls Royce) and UK Academia (in particular, Universities of Cambridge and Leicester), which resulted in 200% income growth alongside a 50% reduction in operating costs.

In 2007, joined Research Support Services at University of Warwick, as the Research Development Officer for Chemistry and Physics, playing an important part in securing the 2007 £4.1M EPSRC Analytical Science award, and the 2008 £4.2M EPSRC SuperGEN Emerging Solar-Technologies award.

In 2008, was a member of a group tasked with benchmarking and analysing the University of Warwick’s industrial collaboration methods, resulting in the establishment in 2009 of a new University Expertise Group, around Business Engagement and Industrial Relations.

From August 1st 2009, working within Business Engagement and Industrial Relations group at University of Warwick, offering expertise in industrial strategy to Warwick Physical Sciences and Engineering departments.

Mark is a member of the Institute of Physics and a Chartered Physicist with interests in Electronic and Structural Materials; Electron, X-Ray and IR Measurement Technologies; Industry-University interaction methods; Sane Business Planning; Leadership Strategies; ‘Governance without Red-Tape’; Best-Practice Analysis and Maximising Operational Effectiveness in Organisations.