WHO WE ARE

Dr Wakefield has an academic background in Physics (BSc, PhD Bristol) with 5 years post-doctoral research (Oxford) with wide ranging expertise in materials characterisation, product development and manufacturing. 

Dr Wakefield has been involved in a management and technology development capacity in start up companies since being co-founder of Oxonica in 1999. Oxonica commercialised nanoparticle-based products with, amongst others, Boots and Stagecoach and AIM listed in 2005 at a value of £33.6m. As Group Manager at Oxford Advanced Surfaces, Dr Wakefield worked with global display manufacturers to develop novel anti-reflection thin film coatings. 

From 2015 to 2024 Dr Wakefield managed Xerion Healthcare, a University of Oxford spin-out company developing nanoparticle treatments for cancer, where he took technical lead in business plan development, fund raising and financial management, regulatory pathway development and IP protection. During this period Xerion raised £3.4m in venture capital funding and £1.5m in grant funding.

Dr Wakefield has broad experience of successful grant funding for SME’s, filing and management of patent portfolios, and collaboration with the University and RTO knowledge base.

Ms Adair has a Masters degree in Chemistry from the University of Bradford and has spent 15 years working in SME’s and global companies across nanomaterial, home and personal care and medical device sectors.

Ms Adair started her career at Oxford Advanced Surfaces, working with colloids, formulations, thermal and UV curable coatings.  During this role she gained a broad knowledge of quality control and implementation as well as new product development.

In her role as a senior analyst at Unilever, Ms Adair collaborated with key internal partners and external suppliers to develop new raw materials and products.  Managing the raw material testing plan, she coordinated testing and analysis of new raw materials for incorporation in a variety of personal care products.

Ms Adair became Quality and Operations Manager at Xerion Healthcare in 2017 where she developed and managed the ISO 13485 QMS.  Managing both the quality assurance and quality control departments she ensured company wide compliance for quality, regulation and health and safety.

Across her career Ms Adair has gained a broad knowledge of  laboratory management and health and safety compliance as well as the development  of a quality culture in start ups.