Of the Trustees, Peter and Jane act as Mentors as well as overseeing Tafflab. Tafflab also has a number of highly experienced and qualified mentors to support its activities. Should you wish to become a mentor, please contact us at tafflab@tafflab.org and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Dr. David Owen has always been involved in biomedical research and the creation of companies to develop better products and services built from new research findings. He is currently a non-executive Director at spin-out companies from Cardiff, Cambridge and Oxford Universities and at the Technology Transfer company at The European Molecular Biology Laboratories in Heidelberg, Germany
Prof. John Middleton started as an Apprentice in Steel Fabrication with British Steel and has over 35 years experience with major industrial organisations in solving engineering problems. Having gained a BSc in 1975 and MSc in 1976 in Numerical Methods, he was awarded a DSc in 1995 for contribution to research and development in the European Union. He’s published over 250 books and papers on computational engineering and biomechanics and founded the International Symposium Series in Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering which is held biannually.
Abigail Chamberlain founded the Welsh Luxury Hamper Company, realising a dream she’s always had of owning her own successful Welsh company that supports other businesses, and reflects the things she loves in her life. A former Tafflab winner, she says these dreams have been made real through the support Tafflab provided alongside that from The Princes Trust and her family.
Dr. Meloney Bartlett initially trained as an Engineer but has worked in academic publishing for the past 20 years. She has a passion for leading publishing programmes that help researchers address issues of societal importance. Meloney currently works as a consultant and advisor to organisations looking to develop their strategy and impact aligned to their community needs through research, business development and partnership.
Rudi Plaut is an RSA Life Fellow and has participated in numerous RSA events in Wales. A Chartered Engineer developing a company with a world-wide patent for the trapping of bed bugs, Rudi was the first Board Chair of the University of Glamorgan, of the Curriculum, Qualification and Assessment for Wales, and of Techniquest. He was recently the President of the Welsh Scout Council.
Christine Bissex-Foster, formerly of The College Merthyr Tydfil, was College Enterprise Champion and brings years of lecturing and management experience to her role as mentor. A runner up in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in 2018, Chris was listed in the top 100 Business Women in Wales. She Chaired the National Training Award panel from 2006 to 2014; she has also Chaired the National Apprenticeship Award Judging Panel in Wales, won a Princess Royal Training Award for The College Merthyr Tydfil, and worked as a national judge on the joint BBC – WDA series “The Biz” programme to change attitudes towards entrepreneurship.
Steve Evans is a seasoned business leader with a track record of founding and successfully exiting startups across diverse sectors, including logistics and marketing, in both the UK and Australia. With over 30 years of experience, he has demonstrated expertise in business development, team building, and strategic growth. An MBA graduate from Imperial College London, Steve is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
Almost six years ago, with 15 years’ recruitment experience in the life sciences world, Tom Froggatt set up his own biotech recruitment company. Now a well respected and successful consulting company, Singular’s HQ is based in the heart of Cardiff and works with biotech companies to build and create the right team and culture to ensure their clients become some of the few biotech companies that succeed. Coaching and mentoring is one of Tom’s areas of expertise and he has also gone through all the trials and tribulations that setting up your own company throws at you.