OUR TEAM
Our team have a wealth of manufacturing experience which collectively spans over 300 years! People are at the core of our organisation, and we believe in investing in them to ensure that they remain the highly knowledgeable and experienced workforce that they are today.
As an innovative company, we are able to fuse the brightest and most inquisitive graduate minds with highly experienced specialists to create an inclusive team that adds value and offers unique and ground-breaking insights into our work within the Manufacturing sector.
Axel Bindel 
Executive Director
As Executive Director, Axel is responsible for the strategy and growth of the company across all regions. He has been with HSSMI since 2013, working his way up through positions including Research Manager, Chief Technology Officer, and Business Strategy Director, and as such is familiar with all facets of the business.
Axel Bindel
Executive Director
David Stewart
Engineering Director | Research & Innovation
David has been with HSSMI since the very beginning and is currently responsible for the coordination of HSSMI's research strategy, research proposals, grant income and exploitation, as well as marketing. He holds a PhD from Glasgow's University of Stratheclyde in Remanufacturing and Reverse Logistics.
David Stewart
Engineering Director | Research & Innovation
Satwik Mehta
Engineering Director | Operations and Systems
Satwik is responsible for technical delivery of all of HSSMI's research and commercial projects. He has a strong technical background with a MSc in Manufacturing Systems from the University of Warwick and is skilled in process planning, automation, digital transformation, and management.
Satwik Mehta
Engineering Director | Operations and Systems
Olga Kurajdova
Finance Director
Olga is a qualified Chartered Certified Accountant with over 15 years of experience across different industries. She oversees all aspects of financial control within the business, including commercial and research project finances, reporting on revenue, budgeting, improving financial processes and providing strategic support.
Olga Kurajdova
Finance Director
Robin Foster
Technical Specialist | Battery Technologies Solution Lead
Robin is an expert on cell manufacturing processes, product scale up and facility design. He has delivered cell, module and pack manufacturing projects at both pilot and high-volume production scales. Robin regularly works with both SMEs and OEMs to optimise production processes and increase productivity.
Robin Foster
Technical Specialist | Battery Technologies Solution Lead
Ibon Terrazas
Senior Technical Lead | Battery Technologies
Ibon is responsible for leading a range of projects related to battery technology and E-motor manufacturing. He is interested in sustainable engineering and holds a Masters degree in Renewable Energy and a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering.
Ibon Terrazas
Senior Technical Lead | Battery Technologies
Kumaravel Jothi
Technical Lead | Battery Technologies
Kumaravel is experienced in leading the management and delivery of major battery projects, from pilot to scale up and commercialisation. At HSSMI, he provides technology consultation, support and solutions for battery manufacturers, including on process, equipment, and facilities.
Kumaravel Jothi
Technical Lead | Battery Technologies
Agnese Rizzato
Engineer | Battery Technologies
Agnese supports the delivery of cell manufacturing and hydrogen technology projects. She holds a Master's degree in Chemical and Process Engineering and is interested in process simulation and optimisation.
Agnese Rizzato
Engineer | Battery Technologies
Joshua Koch
Senior Engineer | Circular Economy
Joshua leads and supports the technical delivery of circular economy projects with a focus on end-of-life and life cycle assessment. He has supported cell and battery manufacturers by developing financial and logistical models that forecast the recycling of batteries and battery materials.
Joshua Koch
Senior Engineer | Circular Economy
Andrew Brading
Technical Specialist | Manufacturing Strategy
Prior to joining HSSMI, Andrew worked for a leading automotive OEM for 40 years and has extensive experience and knowledge in manufacturing engineering. He led on a global scale the installation of multiple new ICE manufacturing facilities as well as process improvement / retooling of existing production facilities..
Andrew Brading
Technical Specialist | Manufacturing Strategy
John Victory
Technical Specialist | Circular Economy
John has over 50 years of experience in automotive engineering, supporting new model programmes, development of process instructions, and installation of electrical power services to facilities. He holds a PhD in model-based condition monitoring with web access from the University of Bradford.
John Victory
Technical Specialist | Circular Economy
Margaret Beever
Technical Specialist | Circular Economy
Margaret is a Chartered Engineer with 10+ years in automotive manufacturing. She is experienced in lean manufacturing, quality, and environmental improvements. At HSSMI, she leads and supports the technical delivery of circular economy projects.
Margaret Beever
Technical Specialist | Circular Economy
Tosin Famusudo
Manager | Digital Manufacturing Tools
Tosin has industrial manufacturing experience coupled with extensive knowledge of digital tools, including visualisations, 3D PDF, mixed, augmented and virtual reality systems. He helps manufacturers implement the latest digital manufacturing solutions, leading to quality and productivity improvements.
Tosin Famusudo
Manager | Digital Manufacturing Tools
Sai Arvind Ravichandran
Technical Lead | Digital Manufacturing Tools
Sai Arvind has wealth of experience and knowledge across a wide range of digital tools and digital twin technology. He has previously worked on new product development, production planning and process improvements, primarily in the automotive industry.
Sai Arvind Ravichandran
Technical Lead | Digital Manufacturing Tools
James Kirby
Senior Engineer | Digital Manufacturing Tools
Using his skills in 2D/3D CAD, 3D visualisations, and immersive technologies, James helps businesses deploy new technology solutions to address manufacturing engineering challenges. He specialises in 3D CAD for product design and digital manufacturing tools.
James Kirby
Senior Engineer | Digital Manufacturing Tools
Torquil Landen
Manager | Hydrogen Systems
Torquil is an expert in the sustainable upscaling of automotive manufacturing processes for alternative powertrain technologies. He has over 25 years of work experience in hydrogen propulsion and renewable energy sectors and a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry from Cambridge University.
Torquil Landen
Manager | Hydrogen Systems
Steve Crowley
Technical Specialist | Hydrogen Systems
Steve has gained over 40 years of experience in the electronics and automotive industries at Ford Motor Company and Case New Holland. At HSSMI, he provides his expertise in defining and developing new Bill of Processes and Bill of Sequence documents to repurpose machining lines.
Steve Crowley
Technical Specialist | Hydrogen Systems
Joe Turner
Principal | Manufacturing Strategy & E-drives
Joe leads a team of engineers and technical specialists, overseeing the technical delivery of commercial and research projects in the area of manufacturing strategy. He has extensive experience in global manufacturing launch and quality assurance, having worked with Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, and Unipart.
Joe Turner
Principal | Manufacturing Strategy & E-drives
Ray Mills
Senior Advisor | Manufacturing Strategy
Ray supports key manufacturing start-up projects from strategic concept through to facility specification. He previously worked for Jaguar Land Rover, where he had a senior management role in the global implementation of seven all-new powertrain facilities.
Ray Mills
Senior Advisor | Manufacturing Strategy
Abdul Razzak
Manager | Manufacturing Engineering
Abdul has an extensive background in manufacturing engineering, retooling, and virtual manufacturing engineering techniques. Before joining HSSMI, he worked for a large UK automotive OEM, leading the delivery of multiple ICE and EV programmes within Manufacturing engineering.
Abdul Razzak
Manager | Manufacturing Engineering
Sam Dixon
Manager | Supply Chain & Logistics
Sam is skilled in logistcs, supply chain analysis, material flow, warehousing, and freight planning. He helps clients develop efficient and effective supply chains, specialising in the needs of automotive clients and the electrification industry.
Sam Dixon
Manager | Supply Chain & Logistics
Jess Lewis
Technical Lead | Supply Chain & Logistics
Jess has a strong background in logistics, having previously worked at a leading OEM in programme management and finished vehicle distribution. She has a level 5 CILT diploma in logistics and transport, gained in 2020.
Jess Lewis
Technical Lead | Supply Chain & Logistics
Inigo Bontigui
Senior Engineer | Manufacturing Strategy
Inigo is a specialist in the optimisation of production processs and layouts, as well as in ways to reduce non-value add activities. He holds a Masters Degree in Lean Manufacturing for Automotive Industry from the University of Navarra in Spain.
Inigo Bontigui
Senior Engineer | Manufacturing Strategy
John Buchanan
Technical Specialist | Supply Chain & Logistics
John has over 35 years experience in automotive manufacturing from a career at Ford Motor Company, including multiple management roles in a variety of locations. His main specialisms are logistics and project management, with additional interests in the environmental impacts of the supply chain.
John Buchanan
Technical Specialist | Supply Chain & Logistics
Enrique Rodriguez
PMO Manager | Lean Manufacturing & Automation
Enrique has been supporting UK manufacturers in applying lean techniques and advanced automation concepts to enhance productivity and support scale up. He has over 25 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, primarily working at General Motors.
Enrique Rodriguez
PMO Manager | Lean Manufacturing & Automation
Ruwan Karunarathne
Technical Lead | Lean Manufacturing & Automation
Ruwan specialises in lean manufacturing and automation. He has a strong background in process development and manufacturing, with a track record of helping manufacturers to optimise processes to increase productivity. Ruwan holds a MSc in Aerospace Engineering from Kingston University.
Ruwan Karunarathne
Technical Lead | Lean Manufacturing & Automation
Katarina Deme
Organisational Development Officer
Katarina has 5 years of project coordination experience and has recently managed three research projects. She works in the PMO department and supports project leads in running research and commercial projects. She holds a degree in HR Management and considers it to be a very useful skill in Project Management.
Katarina Deme
Organisational Development Officer
John Hall
Technical Specialist | Lean Manufacturing & Automation
John has over 50 years of experience in engineering and manufacture. At HSSMI, he is responsible for developing manufacturing designs for automotive electric motors and carrying out productivity cost studies. He is also able to advise on work measurements, line balancing, and process improvement.
John Hall
Technical Specialist | Lean Manufacturing & Automation
Keith Jones
Finance Assistant
Keith has nearly twenty years of experience in finance. He applies his accounting knowledge and experience to a diverse range of financial issues and has been instrumental in driving the growth of HSSMI.
Keith Jones
Finance Assistant
Neil Hume
Technical Specialist | Sustainable Manufacturing
Neil brings a wealth of knowledge and senior experience across manufacturing strategy, operations management, product engineering, as well as technical knowledge in batteries and circular economy, accrued through various senior roles at Jaguar Land Rover (31 years), Bentley and Autocraft.
Neil Hume
Technical Specialist | Sustainable Manufacturing
Emily Laver
Brand Design Officer | Marketing Team
Emily has a strong background in design, having completed a degree in Graphic Design in 2019. At HSSMI, she now applies those skills to maintain and develop our brand.
Emily Laver
Brand Design Officer | Marketing Team
Joel Dsouza
Manufacturing Strategy Engineer | Supply Chain & Logistics
Joel is a graduate engineer in manufacturing strategy. He has a background in Aerospace engineering and has an MSc in Thermal Power (Aerospace Propulsion) from Cranfield University and MSc in Engineering Business Management from the University of Warwick.
Joel Dsouza
Manufacturing Strategy Engineer | Supply Chain & Logistics
Sai Prakash Kambala
Senior Engineer | Digital Manufacturing Tools
Sai Prakash Kambala
Senior Engineer | Digital Manufacturing Tools
Praveen Chandramohan
Manufacturing Strategy Engineer | Manufacturing Engineering
Praveen is a graduate engineer in the manufacturing strategy team with an MEng in Mechanical Engineering from Loughborough University. Past experience in electronics manufacturing has allowed him to develop his technical skills, with particular focus on process improvement and manufacturing systems.
Praveen Chandramohan
Manufacturing Strategy Engineer | Manufacturing Engineering
