Advisory Board

I have more than 23 years’ experience in the e-waste and batteries waste management sector in Europe having initially owned and run a large e-waste recycling plant near Liverpool and later a UK battery collection company providing collection containers, guidance and haulage and onward dispatch to various EU battery treatment facilities.

I have been a key player in the development and implementation of the WEEE and Battery and Accumulator regulations in the UK since 2005 and was appointed by the British Standards Institute as their Technical Expert in 2008 to actively participate in the development of the EN50625 E-Waste Treatment and EN50614 E-Waste Preparing for Re-use standards.

I am also an active participant in the Global Electronics Council reviews of the EPEAT Standard and also participate in the advancement of the R2 Standard in Europe, advising and training European operators of the requirements. I was Europe’s first approved lead auditor for the Certification Body The WEEELABEX Organisation (2009) and set up a successful and busy specialist auditing company (Really Green Credentials) covering the continent of Europe.

From that time up until the end of 2021 I performed or oversaw over 800 e-waste and re-use audits. At the start of 2022 I gave up the auditing work as I was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer for the European Electronics Recyclers Association (EERA) – www.eera-recyclers.com and I now oversee the Association assisting the Board with the lobbying, financial, corporate, and strategic management requirements on behalf of the Members.

At the start of 2024 I also became the Secretary General of the European Battery Recycling Association (EBRA) – www.ebra-recycling.org carrying out similar management tasks as for EERA. The two Associations have many similar areas of interest and hence the synergy between them works well for this joint role.

I work closely with the European Commission in areas impacting EERA and EBRA Members including the review of the EU WEEE Directive and the Batteries Regulation, the Critical Raw Materials Regulation and the Waste Shipments Regulation. I also actively collaborate with similar associations on a global basis and participate as an official observer in the Basel Convention reviews impacting e-waste activities.

Daniel Benchetrite obtained his PhD in Electrochemistry in 2004 in Amiens University (France),
in collaboration with CEA (French Atomic Energy Commission) and in 2005, Daniel was hired by
Exide as laboratory manager and participated in the improvement of 12V batteries for Trucks
applications.
In 2006, Daniel joined Valeo, first as Electrochemical Engineer for designing battery
management systems algorithms for micro-hybrid applications and then took the lead of Energy
Storage Activities, including 48V batteries evaluations.
In 2011, Daniel took the lead of Systems and Integration activities still in Valeo, covering all the
systems from 12V to 48V.
Between 2014 and 2021, Daniel moved to China as Asia System Engineering Director and then
to the USA where he was North America New Mobility Director.
After 7 years abroad, Daniel came back to France to develop new products namely AC Charging
Stations and HV Battery Management Systems

Professor Martin Freer joined the Faraday Institution as CEO in September 2024. Professor Freer is a nuclear physicist. Between 2015 and 2024 he served as the Director of the Birmingham Energy Institute (BEI) at the University of Birmingham, a pan-discipline research centre with research activities from hydrogen, energy storage and battery technologies, through to nuclear energy, which is focused on creating technology and guiding policy that will shape future energy solutions. He also served as Director of the Energy Research Accelerator (which comprises eight internationally renowned Midlands universities that are part of the Midlands Innovation partnership, together with the British Geological Survey) delivering a £200m programme to accelerate university research into regional, national and international impact linked to 1,400 researchers.

Previously, Martin was Director of the Birmingham Centre for Nuclear Education and Research, which he established in 2010. He oversaw the development of the BEI and helped establish Energy Capital (a regional energy partnership for the West Midlands that brings the public and private sectors together to deliver place-based energy solutions). He also co-led the establishment of the joint University of Birmingham–Fraunhofer Germany research platform, the development of the Birmingham Energy Innovation Hub, and the co-development of Tyseley Energy Park in Birmingham.

In 2015 Professor Freer co-led the BEI Commission “Doing Cold Smarter” chaired by Lord Teverson. From 2012 he led or co led a number of Birmingham Policy Commission reports including “Future of Nuclear Energy in the UK” and “Pathways for Local Heat Delivery” and he has championed the establishment of a National Centre for the Decarbonisation of Heat. Professor Freer also co-led the Policy Commission with Sir David King, which saw the creation of Energy Innovation Zone in the West Midlands.

His main research area is the study of the structure of light nuclei, using nuclear reactions. He received the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Prize, Humboldt Foundation, in 2004 and the Rutherford Medal from the Institute of Physics in 2010.

Robert (Bob) L. Galyen, is recognized as one of the top executives in the battery energy storage world and science/engineering-based communities. He is a highly sought-after public speaker as a subject matter expert.  His positions as CTO of CATL (the world’s largest battery manufacturer), Chairman of SAE International Battery Standards Steering Committee, SAE Fellow, Chairman Emeritus and CTO of NAATbatt International, provides him a unique leadership perspective in the global battery industry.  His degrees in chemistry and biology, along with decades of engineering experience and executive roles, provides him a unique view in a leadership or consulting role in cross functional technology areas. He has patents, publications and participates on multiple BOD’s and TAB’s.  The 44 years’ international work experience has given him a visionary perspective on worldwide business, making him uniquely qualified as a global energy storage and scientific/engineering community thought leader. Bob is married with 3 children and 7 grandchildren.

• David started his automotive industry career in 1975 with Jaguar Cars in Coventry as a sponsored student-apprentice with the company while studying for mechanical Engineering degree at Lanchester Polytechnic (now Coventry University). He joined the Vehicle Research department of Product Engineering after graduation in 1979 and went on to develop the team that was responsible for the noise and vibration refinement of the all-new AJ6 engine and the XJ40 car – Jaguar’s first all-new vehicle in 30 years.
• Subsequently David spent significant time working in Far East and USA in technical and managerial consulting roles before joining Tata Motors European Technical Centre in 2008, David spent 3 years based in Pune, India running the NVH team, later taking lead role as Programme Chief Engineer for several new vehicle projects delivered for Tata Motors based from the European Technical Centre at University of Warwick.
• Now responsible for leading strategy and engineering development of low-carbon powertrain technologies (ICE/xEV) and early-stage vehicle attribute delivery for Tata Motors future passenger car product portfolio.

With over a decade of experience in electromobility and battery product engineering, Dr Quirin Kellner has a passion for innovation combined with technical expertise and leadership experience.
In his current role as Chief Engineer for Electromobility at FEV UK he is leading a talented team working on the development of innovative battery solutions and electric vehicle technology.
As former Global Product Engineering Manager for Battery Energy Storage Systems at Aggreko be brought together cross-functional teams in the development of MW-scale battery products, driving product lifecycle management, product robustness and quality, and strategic planning for new product developments.

His career journey also includes a Senior Battery Engineer role at Jaguar Land Rover and a PhD in Li-ion batteries from the University of Warwick bringing together both theoretical understanding, and practical experience.

Steve has extensive experience in the transition to electrification, having played a key role in Jaguar Land Rover’s electrification journey from 2010. He joined Ricardo as Electrification Chief Engineer in 2021 and is now the Head of Electrification Systems. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Product Design and Manufacture from Loughborough University and completed a Master’s in Automotive Systems at the University of Central England in Birmingham. With over 10 patents in electrification, innovation has always been a key driver for Steve. This focus continues through his work at Ricardo, passionate about electrifying transportation for a better future Steve is also an Industry Expert for the IET Policy and Insights Committee. 

Andy started his career as a 16-year-old Apprentice and then Project Engineer, before joining Austin Rover in 1986, culminating in his appointment to Chief Engineer for Transmission Engineering & Manufacturing. In 1991, Andy joined Nissan and held a succession of positions, including Program Director for Light Commercial Vehicles, Senior Vice-President, and Executive Vice-President before being appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2013.

At Nissan, Andy is best remembered for transforming the product line-up, but was also responsible for Business Strategy and Product Planning, Global Sales & Marketing, IT and the company’s Electric Vehicle and Battery business. He was also Chairman of Infiniti. During this time in Japan, Andy was credited with pioneering ground-breaking technologies, including leading the development of the Nissan LEAF electric car.

In October 2014, Andy was appointed CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda. At Aston Martin, Andy oversaw the launch of four core car models with nine derivatives, including the development and launch of the DBX, the company’s first foray into the growing Luxury SUV market.  This led to the company opening a new manufacturing facility in South Wales, UK. Andy’s time at Aston Martin coincided with unique business conditions, including navigating Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union and the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless he was also instrumental in moving the company towards a mid-engined car bloodline, with the creation of the Valkyrie to be launched late 2020.

In 2012, AutoExpress voted Andy into their Hall of Fame as the “Most Influential British Person in the Global Automotive Business” and in 2018, AutoExpress named him”Person of the Past 30 Years”.

In 2021, Andy was appointed CEO and Executive Vice Chairman of electric bus maker. Switch Mobility (formerly Optare). Andy oversaw an investment in Switch that saw it valued at $1.8 billion, making it a unicorn. Andy made the decision to depart Switch in late 2022 to dedicate more time to a plurality of projects in the green automotive space.

Dr Allan Paterson is Head of Battery Development for Fortescue Zero, leading cell technology and applications analysis for high performance battery systems development across breadth of technology areas including motorsport, road car and heavy-duty markets.  Prior to joining Fortescue Zero, Allan was the CTO for Britishvolt, leading the technology programme for cell R&D aligned to commercialisation through development of a UK Gigafactory.   Previously, Allan has held positions as the Faraday Institution’s Head of Programme Management, and as Chief Electrochemist at both Cummins and Johnson Matthey Battery Systems where he investigated new battery technologies and their application in next generation low carbon EV, PHEV and HEV applications. Allan has 25 years’ experience in the field of lithium-ion batteries, and over 10 years in automotive batteries.  Allan holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of St Andrews on advanced cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Graeme is the founding CEO of Ilika and a pioneer in the field of solid state batteries. Building from a program of high throughput materials development collaborations with Toyota on solid state electrolytes in the late 2000s, Ilika has progressed to developing two solid state battery product lines, both demonstrated on production-intent equipment: miniature Stereax batteries for med tech (now licensed to Cirtec Medical for manufacture) and large format Goliath batteries for electric vehicles and consumer appliances. Graeme is a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers and has an MBA from INSEAD business school in France. 

Coming soon…

Alex Stapleton is the Chief Commercial Officer at Alexander Battery Technologies (ABT), a leading manufacturer of custom battery packs and chargers, where he heads up a dynamic team dedicated to driving business growth through innovative battery solutions. With a focus on fostering strong customer relationships, Alex leads ABT’s sales and marketing strategy, leveraging over a decade of experience in consultative sales to identify and deliver high-performance, sustainable battery systems tailored to client needs.

A passionate advocate for the transition to cleaner energy, Alex’s expertise in the EV sector has been instrumental in ABT’s expansion into new markets, helping growing businesses in particular unlock the potential of advanced battery technologies in electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions.

His deep knowledge of product development and market trends positions him as a thought leader in the ongoing electrification revolution. Outside of work, Alex is an avid runner and football fan, supporting Arsenal Football Club. He enjoys applying his competitive mindset from sports to his professional endeavours, constantly pushing for excellence.

Selin Tur is a visionary and accomplished engineering leader with over 20 years of experience driving transformative technological advances, delivering strategic roadmaps, and facilitating innovation across the automotive, motorsport, and commercial vehicle industries. With proven expertise working with Williams,  Jaguar Formula E racing, FPT Electrified Powertrain Engineering, and CNH Advanced Technologies and Innovation, she has pioneered sustainable solutions and leveraged emerging technologies to enhance efficiency, improve performance, and maximize productivity. She joined as the Technical Director of Williams Grand Prix Technologies in August 2024 and currently serves as the Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer.

Dr. Ulderico Ulissi manages the team in charge of oversea technology scouting and technical due diligence at 21C Lab, the research arm of CATL. Before that, he worked in consulting and market research. He held technical roles as at Nissan Motor, where he was the European technical lead for research in energy storage technologies, and as a senior scientist at OXIS Energy Ltd., where he managed the design of a pre-A-sample cell for customer delivery. He was awarded his doctorate in chemistry in 2017 from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and he holds both a BSc and an MSc in industrial chemistry from Sapienza, University of Rome. He has authored 19 scientific publications, 5 patents, and 1 book on energy storage technologies.