Bright SCIdea Challenge

Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne

Founder, Genius Foods and Chair of Scotland Food and Drink

After struggling to find quality alternative bread for her gluten-intolerant son, Lucinda, a professional chef who studied physiology at university, founded Genius Foods in 2009 with her gluten-free bread. First sold in Tesco, Genius bread is now the UK’s leading ‘free-from’ bakery and is sold across Europe, the USA and in Australia. Lucinda has won numerous awards for her work at Genius Foods, including the Ernst & Young UK Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2012. The company has also been named as one of the Top 50 most valued Scottish brands. Lucinda has recently stepped back from Genius to concentrate on her new role as Chair of Scotland Food and Drink and a new entrepreneurial project. She is also an SCI Board Trustee and NED of The Scale Up Institute.

Robin Harrison

Robin Harrison is VP Technology Platforms & External Innovation for Synthomer, one of the world’s foremost suppliers of aqueous and speciality polymers. Synthomer helps its customers create new tailored solutions and enhance performance of existing products in key industries such as coatings, construction, textiles, paper and synthetic latex gloves. Robin 's role is to define and execute Synthomer’s strategic platform innovation activities through internal programs and collaborative partnerships. Robin has over 25 years research and development experience in the chemical sector, specialising in polymer and resin chemistry, developing industrially relevant systems for a wide range of application areas. This background alongside his current role enables him to work at the interface of science with industry, whilst still being heavily involved in industrial innovation of chemical products.

Victor Christou

Victor has spent the last 25 years building technology companies as both a founder and investor. He was previously a Partner at YFM Equity Partners where he was responsible for the growth companies in the portfolio. Prior to joining YFM, Victor was CEO of Cambridge Innovation Capital where he built up the team and portfolio, as well as being responsible for investments in CMR Surgical and Pragmatic Semiconductor. Before that, Victor founded Opsys, an organic electronics business, which he and the team sold to Cambridge Display Technology in 2002. Victor has a PhD in Chemistry from Imperial College, London and was a Sloan Fellow at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. He began his career as an academic at the University of Oxford, where he was a Royal Society University Research Fellow. Victor was the Royal Society of Chemistry Entrepreneur of the Year in 2002.