About UKSPA

David Gillham

A PhD in Biochemistry and a career in R&D and Business Development in the applied biosciences industry led David to lead research and enterprise activities for the University of Reading.  As part of that portfolio David developed a vibrant cluster of early stage and growing technology and life sciences companies on the campus, an initiative that led to the establishment of Thames Valley Science Park.  David led the visioning, business planning, development, and establishment of TVSP from the outset and was Executive Director of the Park as well as undertaking a wider commercial role within the University.   David left the University in 2019 and has undertaken a number of consultancy assignments, primarily for University and Public Sector organisations related to the development and delivery of their innovation communities and science parks. 

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Ieuan Wyn Jones

Ieuan qualified as a solicitor in 1973 and was a partner in a North Wales firm until his election as the MP for Ynys Môn in 1987. He was elected to the National Assembly for Wales in 1999  and became the leader of Plaid Cymru-The Party of Wales in 2000 a post he held until 2012. In 2007 he became Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport in the Welsh Government coalition. Ieuan left the Assembly in 2013 to set up the Menai Science Park (trading as M-SParc). He led the development phase of the project and stepped down as Executive Director in May 2018 and now chairs the M-SParc Board. Currently he is the Operations Manager for the Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Centre of Excellence based at M-SParc. He also acts as Convenor for the UKSPA Wales branch.

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Bill Sprigings

Bill began as a physiologist at the National Institute for Medical Research progressing to the pharmaceutical, diagnostics, medical device and biotechnology sectors in sales, marketing and general management roles.

He gained experience of international business development with UKT&I, what is now the Department of International Trade, advising SMEs in the healthtech and life science sectors and facilitating inward investment to the East of England.

His involvement with UKSPA began in 2006 on becoming Marketing Director of BioPark, a science park owned by the University of Hertfordshire that provided commercial R&D space for life science firms. As a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing he undertakes mentoring of healthtech start-ups on behalf of Tech London Advocates with an emphasis on marketing and communications strategy.

Nick Sturge

After graduating in Electronics with Computing and short spells in medtech startups, Nick joined Inmos, part of a global semiconductor business. From there he co-founded Motion Media Technology developing video communication equipment, listing on the London stock exchange in 2000 with a peak valuation of £270m.

Nick grew the Bristol SETsquared business incubator, for high-tech, high-growth businesses to be ranked the world’s best university business incubator, in 2015, 2018 and 2019.

In 2013, he founded Engine Shed, a collaboration between Bristol University and Bristol City Council, housing the re-located SETsquared Centre and other projects to drive in inclusive and sustainable scale-up ecosystem.

Nick is an IoD Council member for the South West and joins the Board of Governors of Bath Spa University in September 2020. Awarded an MBE for services to the digital economy in 2019 he is now non-exec chair of a software business and freelance strategic adviser.

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Barry Sankey

Barry first became involved in the science park sector whilst in training, before he qualified as a solicitor in 1983.  He has worked with science parks across the UK for over forty years, and was a Business Affiliate of the Association from 1993 until he stepped back from full time legal practice in 2021. 

 During that period, Barry was a regular attendee at UKSPA conferences, speaking and sharing experience on matters from site assembly and strategy to leases and virtual tenancies. He is also the proud author of sections of both the original and second editions of the UKSPA publication, ‘The Planning, Development & Operation of Science Parks’, and recently contributed a chapter to the third edition, focusing on the issues around converting vision into reality for a new science park project.

 Although Barry has now retired – August 2024 – from legal practice, he continues to support to the science park sector, and welcomes the opportunity to review and brainstorm plans and proposals with science parks, bringing to bear his vast experience accumulated over four decades.  He also offers training for science park staff on various aspects of management and day-to-day operations, including virtual tenancy and AML compliance, and can be reached via LinkedIn or at most UKSPA members’ meetings and many other sector-related events.

Jonathan Burroughs

Jonathan was a Founder Partner and CEO of long-standing UKSPA Business Affiliate Member Creative Places, where he worked with countless UKSPA Member locations as an advisor on how to create environments that attract and work well for scientists and people involved with research and education, R&D, creativity, up-skilling, innovation and enterprise.

Now semi-retired, Jonathan continues to provide consultancy work in visioning, working with stakeholders and delivering beneficial change – specifically in the field of place making involving innovation and enterprise.