Our Team

Nick Bateman

As the CEO of GrowPura, Nick is responsible for the strategic direction of the business to firmly establish the brand and its innovative technology as market leaders in the vertical farming hydroponics industry.

Nick has his finger firmly on the pulse of both sustainable agriculture and social economic behaviour trends and demands; and as the technical expertise and environmental knowledge to bring intuitive farming solutions that bridge that gap.

A proven track record in the biotechnology and food industries and his extensive financial experience from senior positions with the likes of ICI / Zeneca, Lloyds Bank, British Steel Corporation and most recently Marlow Foods Limited perfectly position him to steer GrowPura to become the industry leaders.

Paul Woodburn

I enjoy the involvement with a wide variety of organisations and individuals to better understand their goals and objectives. My advice brings accountancy and commercial awareness together.

Specialisms:

• Advising a wide range of clients and company start up businesses to large privately owned companies
• Responsible for specialist audit and assurance engagements, including not-for-profit organisations, charities, including Academies, pension schemes and solicitors
• Corporate and business finance including acquisitions and disposals · Strategic business advice, including tax panning.

Also current Partner for 35 years with WNJ

Jo Bayley

Jo Bayley, is a plant scientist who has more than 10 years expertise with a wide range of practical hydroponics growing systems and micro-propagation technologies, with over 20 years experience in Horticulture.

Daniela Bagnoli FRSA VR

I have worked in the food manufacturing and marketing industry in management and senior executive roles representing clients in the food sector providing creative media design & strategic marketing and communications consultancy services spanning 30 years.

I have been responsible for launching several food and drink brands for clients and have founded and served as co director of food businesses in dairy, retail and marketing. I am highly experienced working in food R&D Innovation, NPD, business development, project management and delivering training. Other business ventures and interests including film, media broadcasting and advertising having worked as a professional Director and Producer.

In 2004 I was awarded fellowship of the Royal Society for Arts Business and Commerce by the board of Trustees and remain committed to supporting the aims of the society. I have worked and supported community based social projects throughout most my life where I have lived and worked. I have served as a reservist for 24 years where my civilian skills have made a contribution. I believe the team is the strength and the team is the whole. I am proud to be part of and serve this formidable team.

Mathew Best BSc Brunel & MSc Sussex

Two decades of creating and shipping new technology:

• Built up and ran NaturalMotion’s AI R&D team, directing and managing long term research combining AI and physics engines.
• Built and ran successful onsite client engineering teams, integrating NaturalMotion’s
  AI/physics middleware into multiple AAA Games.
• Designed and ran a series of inter-studio / international technology sharing conferences for Square-Enix.
• AI / Neural Net research engineer for Cambridge startups.
• Worked with many different business models, shipped multiple large scale games, successfully contributed to both growing startups and large companies alike.
• Developer experienced in deep learning, as well as blockchain and other decentralised technologies.

Peter Willis CBiol

A microbiologist/biochemist by training, the early part of my career was spent specialising in fermentation research at ICI – including the development of the Quorn process. Latter part was spent in management of manufacturing plants, processes and people including the operation of High Care food facilities in Blue Chip companies I have been involved with GrowPura for over 5 years working alongside the team in developing and optimising manufacturing process and design.

James Hewett

James is a graduate from Aston University where he achieved a first class degree in mechanical engineering. He has a year of industrial experience at Cummins Turbo technologies where he developed his knowledge of Matlab and simulation.