The Team
The initial idea for OMB was sparked in the Departments of Engineering Science and Geography at the University of Oxford, and since we have formed a team combining decades of world-leading scientific knowledge with proven and successful industrial experience.
Dr. Cordelia Rampley
Chief Executive Officer
After completing her D.Phil in Engineering Sciences at Oxford with Prof. Thompson, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher with Prof. Huang, developing a new chassis for synthetic biology called ‘SimCells’ – novel cells which are unable to divide or reproduce, and are able to act as very sensitive biosensors, with the added benefit of commercial and environmental confinement of DNA. Having since completed her MBA, she is using her experience to convert the cutting edge research in OMB into commercially applicable products.
Tony White
chief commercial officer & investor
An impact investor and founder of BioPhorum, the best practice collaboration group to the global biopharmaceutical industry. For over 35 years, Tony has helped a range of corporates, in a spread industries to master operations, supply chains and new technologies. A production engineer by training he chose not to be a technical expert but to work through those closest to problems, welding them into teams that deliver real change. In 2008 he took his work into the biopharma industry as it was first scaling and commercialising therapies. To this day, the cross company collaboration he built continues to help the industry address a long list of non-competitive regulatory and technology challenges. He has now invested in OMB to help its founders bring the benefits of biosensor technology to a wider audience and make a global impact on river quality.
Prof. Paul Whitehead
Executive Director
Professor of Water Science, both in Southampton and Oxford and a Senior Fellow at St Peters College, Oxford. He has over 40 years of experience in managing 47 research projects worth £37 million. His research focuses on modelling the dynamics of nutrients and chemicals in the environment, as well as determining water quality. Paul Whitehead has also been the Managing Director of Water Resource Associates LLP (WRA) for the past 6 years. WRA is a water resource company that has been successfully operating for 23 years (see www.watres.com ).
Dr Duane Ager
Chief Scientific officer
Dr Duane Ager is an applied microbiologist with a background in ecological risk assessment. He has designed, operated, and monitored bioreactor systems for the aerospace and and automotive industries during his time working in the waste processing industry. He has over 25 years experience working with biosensors, particularly for testing soils and environmental samples.
Mr. Keith Ifould, CBE
adviser
Keith has extensive experience in facilitating funding for major projects and bringing together required teams and expertise to exploit major business opportunities. This has included working with national/international government departments, private finance and commercial organisations, such as Emirates Airlines. Keith has had extensive business management experience managing £75 million construction projects for the RAF and commanding (managing) major air base with 4000 personnel. He was awarded a CBE in 2000.