Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Organiser: Asia-Pacific Technology Network)
Speaker
Commentator
Location: Asia House, 63 New Cavendish Street, London, W1G 7LP
Nearest Tube Stations: Oxford Circus or Regent's Park
Timing: 6 - 7.30 pm
Pricing:
To register your interest: please send your details (name, institutional affiliation, email address, phone number) to biz@aptn.org
Chris Pook
Chris Pook was appointed to the post of Counsellor (Science and Innovation) at the British Embassy Tokyo in December 2005. He is responsible for leading a team of 13 staff in Tokyo and Osaka responsible for covering all aspects of science and innovation.
Chris has a degree in microbiology and a background in biotechnology and genetic engineering. He was appointed to the science fast stream in the Department of Trade and Industry in December 1993 and subsequently held various posts in the Department, covering innovation policy, takeover regulation and reform of nuclear liabilities management. He was Private Secretary to successive Ministers of State from 1995 to 1997.
Chris spent two years with BG plc, an international oil and gas company where he was responsible for advising on government relations and political risk in the UK and overseas. He was posted to Singapore for six months to work with the head of British Gas Asia-Pacific.
From May 2001 to August 2004 Chris was Science Attaché at the British Embassy in Washington DC where he was responsible for handling all civil S&T matters in the Embassy. He managed a team of three staff and supported the expansion and co-ordination of a network of 14 science officers in 5 additional posts across the US.
Before moving to Tokyo, Chris was appointed as Secretary to the Technology Strategy Board. He was responsible for establishing and setting the agenda for the new business-led board created to set high-level innovation and technology priorities for the UK.
Chris will be talking about one of the Embassy's core areas of work which should lead to some discussion about what they should focus on in future. He will bring over some brochures on his work.
Juan Matthews
After a career as a materials physicist and research manager, Juan Matthews was Asia Pacific Regional Director for AEA Technology plc based in Tokyo for 5 years. During this period he was involved in technology transfer (including the successful introduction of the lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries) as well as setting up operations and management of R&D services in the region. From 1999 to 2001 he was component leader for R&D institutions on the TACIS programme “Innovation Centres and Scientific Cities” in Russia. This programme greatly influenced Russian technology commercialisation policy and systems, and established a number of successful innovation centres and the Russian Technology Transfer Network. From 2001 to 2007 he was the DTI international Technology Promoter for Russia as part of the Global Watch Service. Since 2007 Juan Matthews is an independent international technology business consultant working as a UK Trade and Investment R&D Specialist in Japan and Russia for half his time but also in technology investment and non-proliferation areas. Juan is an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Physics and Astronomy of University College London.