What makes Cambridge great is the people who study, research and work here and their relentless pursuit of truth. When that truth is used by society, it changes people’s lives for the better.

But today, truth is under threat. With the spread of misinformation and political and ideological pressures clouding public understanding, society needs its institutions, now more than ever, to be beacons of truth and to do everything in their power to get that truth out.

I first came to Cambridge as a state-school student in 1999, leaving 11 years later after a PhD and research career in Engineering combined with a lifelong commitment to turn brilliant ideas into real-world solutions. At the BBC, I translated cutting-edge research into broadcasting innovation. Later, at the University of Oxford, I launched the University’s first research-based social ventures, showing how academic research—across sciences, humanities, and arts—can tackle real societal challenges, from poverty to climate change. With ImpactU, I brought Cambridge, Oxford, and ten other universities together to combine and grow resources to accelerate mission-driven ventures, demonstrating what’s possible when we combine our truths with real-world action. I now work building capacity for successful knowledge transfer from universities across the UK and Europe.

What my journey taught me is that if scientific theory and research are the core components of truth, then innovation is that truth in action. Therefore, my vision for Cambridge is a simple one: we will burn the beacon of truth brighter than ever before, and our innovation and impact will be the vehicle that carries our light into the world. In the role I will champion Cambridge’s values, amplify our voice, and actively work to help grow existing pathways and create new ones for innovation to flourish.

If elected, I pledge to:

Defend truth and open debate

  • Advocate for academic freedom and rigorous inquiry, protecting Cambridge’s position as a place where ideas are tested and challenged openly.
  • Work tirelessly to ensure public policy and funding prioritise evidence, transparency, and integrity.

Empower Cambridge’s innovators

  • Work to secure funding, resources, and expertise to enable students, researchers, and alumni to transform their insights into impactful ventures, whether commercial, charitable, or policy-driven.
  • Work to break down barriers that hold back innovation, bringing a practical approach informed by my direct experience launching successful spinouts, and build on Cambridge’s already strong foundations laid by generations of trailblazers.

Champion inclusive excellence

  • Ensure Cambridge’s opportunities remain open and accessible to talent wherever it’s found. Creativity is a force that combines ideas, sourced through diversity of experience, into something new - our institution must reflect and foster this.
  • Leverage our global network to drive meaningful change on the world stage and turn Cambridge ideas into action at scale.

This election matters. At a time when truth itself needs guardians, Cambridge must remain both the compass and the catalyst that society relies upon. Every vote makes a difference.

Join me in protecting Cambridge’s legacy, shaping its future, and reaffirming our commitment to truth, integrity, and world-shaping impact.

Supporters

  • Rachel Abernethy
  • Behzad Arbabzadah
  • Richard Auburn
  • Sarah Baldock
  • Kathryn Lucie Barnes
  • Paul Beecher
  • B Bell
  • S P Burr
  • Karen W Y Cheung
  • Jonathan D Clayden
  • W Tristan Collins
  • Quentin Compton-Bishop
  • S J Crisp
  • Christopher G Davies
  • Joseph De Bono
  • Isabella de Rosario
  • Danielle DiCara
  • William M St J Foster
  • Alister French
  • Stuart Grace
  • Daniel Green
  • Clare E Griffiths
  • Caroline Handley
  • Nicholas Handley
  • Christopher D Hewson
  • Neil Hoult
  • Chien-Wen Hsieh
  • Xiaoliang Jin
  • Aleksandra Jones
  • Justin R G Jones
  • Katherine Ann Jones
  • Gary Koo Chow Chong
  • Lee Lewin
  • Henry Majed
  • Mark Mann
  • Stuart Milne
  • Shu-Pei Oei
  • Jason Olfert
  • Robin C Payne
  • Gregory Pearce
  • Sieglinde Pfaendler
  • Nathan Pike
  • Mariam Reza
  • Iain C Smith
  • Hannah Lindsey Stewart
  • Simon Strojan
  • George Ulmann
  • J O Vicary
  • Claire J Walker
  • Ian E Walker
  • Emma Ware
  • C Tobias Wirth
  • Androula Yiakoumetti
  • Yan Zhang