Professor Cameron Pleydell-Pearce
Cam is Professor of Engineering at Swansea University, and has a long history of interfacing with industry and has significant experience of managing industry/academic research collaborations and relationships. Following his PhD in novel metal joining techniques he worked as a post-doctoral research officer in the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre in Materials specialising in material characterisation and mechanical metallurgy, latterly supporting the business on component level failure investigations and engine certification programmes. He has worked as part of a team that established an independent commercial ISO17025 accredited mechanical test facility and subsequently managed testing packages for industry.
In 2012 Cameron accepted a position as a TATA Steel sponsored lecturer at Swansea University with a focus on delivering effective technology transfer between academia and the steel industry. His time was split evenly between the academic and industrial environments. As a result of this his research now spans a broad range of topics supporting innovation in the steel industry from rapid alloy prototyping & product development to ferrous raw material processing, refractory behaviour & optimisation of liquid steel making practices. He has awards from both The Royal Society and The Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers for innovation in steel making and has a spin out company in the sector.
A central focus of his career has been the establishment of a strong and vibrant research environment in the College of Engineering at Swansea. To this end late in 2015 he established the Advanced Imaging of Materials facility at the University. Together with his colleague Prof Richard Johnston and Facility Manager Mr Peter Davies he attracted £7m of capital funding from government and industry to develop what is now recognised as a regional centre of excellence. This was evidenced by the establishment of an STFC funded bridging for innovators centre (one of only two in the UK) that provides a direct link between Welsh businesses and national level research infrastructure. In 2017 Cameron played a leading role in the establishment of the Steel and Metals Institute at Swansea University with £2m of support from Welsh Government to which TATA Steel have already committed 31 industrial researchers and £9m of research equipment. The academic and industrial team soon complemented this with a £3m HEFCW capital equipment grant that levered a further £18m in EPSRC investments including the SUSTAIN Future Steel Manufacturing Hub that he leads in partnership with Prof. Dave Worsley. Currently he is focused on consolidating and enhancing this environment locally and has a leading role nationally in steel research, development and innovation.