Mike has recently taken on the role of Executive Director for Net Zero. In this role, Mike is responsible for leading Innovate UK's activities that help ensure the UK prospers as the economy transitions to net zero. Prior to this, Mike was Programme Director for the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, which delivers the research and science that businesses needs to transform existing industries, create new ones and deliver economic impact, jobs and growth. He also worked as Deputy Director for Fund Portfolio, with responsibility for the development of a balanced portfolio of hundreds of millions of grant funding activity. One of Mike's first roles with Innovate UK was as co-author on the UK strategy for electronics, photonics and electrical systems. He was the lead for the Assisted Living Innovation Platform, which promoted independence and quality of life among the ageing population. Over 5 years this platform invested more than '50 million to connect business to societal challenges and help the UK to access this global market opportunity. During this time he was also President of the Ambient Assisted Living Association, part of a pan-European investment activity worth over '600 million. Before joining Innovate UK, Mike worked in the photonics industry for 10 years after graduating with a masters in physics from Imperial College, London. He is a Chartered Physicist with the Institute of Physics.