VN-H POWER GENERATION - Key Persons


David Newman - Chief Commercial Officer

Job Titles:
  • Commercial Director
  • Founding Director of Viridis Navitas Capital Partners Ltd
David is a founding Director of Viridis Navitas Capital Partners Ltd and a highly commercial, innovative and success driven individual. He is also an entrepreneur with a strong electronic, electro-mechanical, automotive and heavy engineering background. Following 10 years of military service operating throughout the world, David spent the next 10 learning the commercial realities of international business by apprenticing himself to the most successful business owners and companies he could find. During this time he was tasked across a broad range of industries including, leisure, entertainment, automotive, telecoms, advertising and IT. His corporate roles have included: Project Management, New Business Procurement, Financial Restructuring, Technical Creation and Support, IT Solution Creation & Delivery, Training Program Creation & Delivery and Change Management. In 1999 he formed his own Telecoms consultancy and later that year created Trans Global Network Services, the world's first global fibre optic leasing operator. After successfully exiting TGNS in 2002 with annual revenues of $27m, David accepted the role of Commercial advisor to the then Maltese Minster of Finance, The Right Hon Mr John Dalli where he formed part of a 3-man team charged with redesigning the Countries FDI programme, agencies and Industrial Estate Management.

Dr Mohamed Mamlouk

Job Titles:
  • Lecturer
  • Senior Lecturer
Dr Mohamed Mamlouk is a Senior Lecturer for the School of Engineering at University of Newcastle with an area of expertise in Electrochemical Engineering Science. Qualifications: Ph.D. Electrochemical Engineering: Investigation of High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells, Newcastle University, August 2008. M.Sc. Chemical Engineering: Applied Process Control (Distinction), Newcastle University, Sept 2003. B.Sc. Hons: Applied Chemistry, Equiv (2:1), Aleppo University, Syria, 2002. Memberships Fellow of the UK higher education academy (D2 UKPSF) Electrochemical society European Energy Research Alliance steering committee Society of Chemical Industry Carisma European Coordination Action on increasing the impact of research European COST action on fuel cell durability Electrochemical Technology Group executive committee ECTG (SCI) Energy Group (SC) Dr. Mamlouk is lecturer at Newcastle University (since May 2016) and he is currently holding a Research Fellowship at Newcastle University (NEW) on anion exchange membranes development (2014-2017). He has published 43 papers in the field of fuel cells and electrolyser, with over 960 citations (google scholar) and h-index of 19.

Mark Gilmore - COO

Job Titles:
  • Operations Director
  • Founding Director of Viridis Navitas Capital Partners Ltd
Mark is also a founding Director of Viridis Navitas Capital Partners Ltd and another highly motivated, tenacious, achievement orientated individual who constantly delivers on business margin and project targets. Be it participating in successful IT start-ups, or working within a ‘FTSE 500' company, Mark brings more than 20 years successful operating experience at senior and executive sales management level to VN-CP. Mark's most recent corporate role was managing COLT Managed Services strategic markets region (6 countries and 27 employees). In his last year he delivered over £30m in revenues (118% against target) and nearly £13m of new business bookings (122% against target). This achievement was coupled with the process of transitioning the pre-sales technical architects, with corporate incentive structures to technical consultants holding personal incentive schemes. Prior to this Mark held a number of senior Business Development roles including; Dimension Data for over 4 years, significantly exceeding revenue, bookings and margin targets in each of the 4 years he was there; GTS Carrier Services; and TGNS S.A. In between these roles, Mark started Big Picture Interactive, a new digital multimedia and interactive web company, creating year 1 revenues in excess of £1m. Upon leaving the Royal Navy where he was a serving officer, he converted an antique shop into a pub and restaurant, operating it successfully for 2 years before exiting via a private sale. Mark manages sales and operations for VN-CP and is also an equity participant in, and Director of, all VN spin-off SPV's.

Mick Avison - CTO

Job Titles:
  • Manager
  • Senior Executive
  • Technical Director
Mick is a highly experienced Senior Executive Manager, with a referenceable track record in the development, construction, operation and management of power generation projects and businesses (renewable and conventional energy) in Europe. Mick also has significant knowledge and experience of Private Equity and Commercial Banking Finance and Risk Management. He has particular skills in the development of renewable projects, particularly the negotiation and management of EPC contracts for the construction of Power Plants, fuel supply and Power Take-off agreements (PTA's) together with operation and maintenance contracts. Mick also advises private institutions on energy related issues and asset management. This expertise has been gained in a number of professional and commercial roles over the last 28 years. Aged 54, his skills mix reflects core training as an engineer, leadership roles in Joint Venture companies and blue chip power generation companies. Since 2004, Mick has provided independent practitioner and advisory services to private investors, government agencies and independent power companies. Mick was instrumental in the contract restructuring of the Elettra business in Italy, resulting in a successful 170m refinancing in 2007 and went on to manage their power business in Italy comprising 230MW of CCGT power plant utilising industrial producer gases to co-fire the gas turbines. Mick has also developed wind, biomass and solar projects in the EU working with a strong network of contacts. Mick manages technical oversight and engineering due diligence for VN-CP and is also an equity participant in, and Technical Director of VN - H Power Generation Ltd.

Prof Keith Scott

Job Titles:
  • Chartered Engineer
Keith is Emeritus Professor of Electrochemical Engineering, at Newcastle University, UK. Educated at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, where he obtained his doctorate in the Chemical Engineering for research on electrochemical synthesis, cell design and scale-up. Prior to this he held the position of Professor of Electrochemistry at the University of Teesside. He has an international reputation in the field of electrochemical science and engineering, His main research and development focus is in fuel cell and electrolyses technologies, batteries and bio-electrochemical system, with a focus on membrane and catalyst materials, cell design and scale-up. He has successfully managed or coordinated over 30 projects at a national and EU level, funded by EPSRC, TSB, Innovate UK, EU, MOD/DERA and the Carbon Trust. He has authored or co-authored more than 400 research articles published in international referenced journals, made a comparable number of conference presentations, co-invented three patents, written or edited a dozen books, chaired several international conferences. Keith has been instrumental in establishing spin out companies NewChem Technologies Ltd. and Newcell technologies Ltd, who operate in the areas of electrochemical energy technologies, environmental protection and synthesis, and has worked as a consultant for many international companies. He is fully conversant with international banking process requirements and regularly represents and/or advises clients negotiating commercial bank funding or repayment proposals. Keith is a chartered engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers.