ALUMNI FOCUS
Driving positive change:
celebrating our alumni delivering innovative solutions for a better world
At Heriot-Watt we aspire to nurture the changemakers of tomorrow and it is our global alumni community which demonstrates that aspiration in action. The Watt seeks to celebrate the power our alumni have to bring positive change to the world and here we shine a light on some of those creating enterprising solutions to pressing challenges.
Turning the tide on climate change: Andrew Scott
Since taking the helm at Orbital Marine Power, Andrew Scott, has led the commercial deployment of the company’s innovative floating tidal turbine technology. Focused on the sustainable extraction of the kinetic energy present in flowing currents and tidal streams, Orbital is pioneering a technological solution that could enable a new global market in the renewable energy sector.
Andrew commented: “We want to play our part in tackling climate change, improving air quality and supporting the global transition away from fossil fuels. As the world looks to accelerate the decarbonisation of its energy system, we firmly believe tidal stream, and potentially ocean current projects can bring unique benefits while harnessing a predictable and secure source of renewable energy.”
The O2 tidal turbine.
In 2021 the company installed its commercial demonstration turbine, the O2, at a grid connected site in the Orkney islands. At 2MW of generating capacity, the O2 is the most powerful tidal turbine in operation anywhere in the world and has the ability to meet the electricity demands of around 2,000 UK homes. Manufactured predominantly in the UK, the O2 was the first vessel to be launched from a Dundee shipyard in over forty years. Following on from the success of the O2, Orbital Marine Power have secured contracts from the UK Government to supply more electricity from the tidal stream resource that flows around the UK coastlines.
Andrew studied MSc Energy, graduating in 2002, and said of his studies: “Renewable energy was really just emerging as a career choice in the early 2000s, and I was fortunate that the Masters at Heriot-Watt offered the rare choice to pivot in that direction. It set me up to apply my career in an area I remain passionate and motivated by.”
We firmly believe tidal stream, and potentially ocean current projects can bring unique benefits.”
Andrew Scott
Connecting regenerative agriculture to ethical fashion: Rosie Bristow
Using all natural materials could be entirely circular, with no waste and nothing going to landfill.”
Rosie Bristow
Heriot-Watt alum, Rosie Bristow, is driving a highly ambitious project to resurrect the growth and use of flax within an ethical community-based textile industry. In partnership with fashion designer and software engineer Nick Evans, she established Fantasy Fibre Mill – a new flax processing mill at Phantassie Farm in Scotland – which won the 2023 Create Change Converge award which recognises innovative ideas being turned into creative, cultural and social businesses.
Rosie explains: “What started as a small grow-your-own clothes project has turned into an initiative to disrupt the extractive and exploitative fashion supply chain with textiles that nurture the environment and support local communities. Flax used to be widely grown for use in Scotland’s linen mills, but cheaper imported textiles led to a total decline in its popularity. But flax is a low input crop and also great for pollinators. I spoke with farmers interested in growing it and with people in the fashion world interested in locally produced fibres.”
After undertaking research to look at how to bring flax back into use, Rosie and Nick are testing and refining prototype flax processing machines. “We’re trying to build farm-scale equipment so that farmers can process their own crop,” explains Rosie. “Our intention is to enable vertical integration so that all the required processing of the flax through to useable yarn could happen in one place, then be made into cloth by local weavers and into clothes by local designers. It’s a vision of place-based processing facilities enabling a community-based micro-industry creating ethical fashion.”
Rosie studied MSc Fashion and Textile Management, graduating in 2022. “Whilst studying I was greatly supported by Dr Lisa Macintyre, as my dissertation supervisor, who was so enthusiastic about my flax research,” she explains. “Dr Jack Ng and the Enterprise team at GRID supported us to successfully apply for the Innovation Challenge, Converge Challenge and UKRI funding, as well as facilitating the opportunity to work with Professor Theo Lim and 4th year Mechanical Engineering students on developing the flax processing machines.” Now, she is further investigating the viability of a soil-to-soil textile economy through a PhD at the University. “Linen garments using all natural materials could be entirely circular, fully decomposing with no waste and nothing going to landfill, unlike so much of the current textile industry.”
Tackling single-use products for sustainable healthcare: Annie Mamvura
Across the world, single-use products in healthcare are a key contributor to plastic waste. Creating sustainable healthcare is a huge challenge and innovation in this area is a major goal. Heriot-Watt Online graduate, Annie Mamvura, who is based in Nairobi, Kenya, is founder of GreenGraceWear and winner of the Health & Care-led Business Award in the University’s 2023 Global Innovation Challenge.
Tackling the problem of incontinence management, which currently depends largely on single-use products, she has devised a route to more sustainable product provision. GreenGraceWear provides reusable incontinence wear for women and girls facing urinary incontinence due to disabilities, aging, or menopause. “Incontinence not only takes a mental and emotional toll on many women but also greatly diminishes their overall quality of life,” comments Annie. “I wanted to address this issue and the growing global demand for sustainable, eco-friendly products, while also ensuring that the product I create is accessible to a wider audience, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Affordability is a key factor for me in devising GreenGraceWear.”
Prototyping her product, Annie is currently evaluating a range of sustainable materials, to ensure they meet her key criteria of affordability, absorbency, and durability: “The materials must not only provide high-quality performance but align with environmental and cost-conscious goals. The final product must provide excellent functionality while remaining affordable and accessible to all,” she comments.
Annie studied an MBA via Heriot-Watt Online. “My studies have equipped me with a unique set of skills and tools essential for conducting in-depth market research, developing strategic plans, analysing market trends, and identifying opportunities. All of which are helping me with the development of GreenGraceWear.”
I wanted to address the growing global demand for sustainable, eco-friendly products.”
Annie Mamvura
Pioneering tech for environmental safety: Oleg Ishkov
Idle oil wells pose a significant threat to the environment. University spin-out Rockit Technology – led by Heriot-Watt alum and company founder, Oleg Ishkov – has developed a groundbreaking solution to permanently lock deep underground the harmful gases that could escape from abandoned wells.
Oleg explains: “This technology seals potential leak paths and fractures around well boreholes with a natural and impermeable mineral barrier that fills pores at sub-millimetre scale inside the rock itself, and which can last for thousands of years. Rockit technology prevents greenhouse gases, such as methane and CO₂, flammables, toxins, carcinogens and any stored gases from escaping into the atmosphere. In this way, we can contribute to the slowing of global warming as well as helping to make our oceans safe. Our solution has the potential to become the go-to technology for the emerging Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and hydrogen storage markets.”
Oleg, who completed his PhD in 2010, was a Research Associate, then a Fellow in the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society working in the Flow Assurance and Scale Team lead by Professor Eric Mackay. This research group spent decades working on problems of mineral precipitation for energy sector. “My career was kick-started in this environment of industry-driven research,” he explains. “Together with colleagues, we have developed an innovative chemical method that transforms permeable porous rocks into impermeable barriers.”
Rockit won the Net Zero award in the 13th annual Converge Awards, Scotland’s largest company creation programme for the university sector. Oleg is now working full time on scaling this innovative tech which has the potential to make a significant impact on global environmental safety.
We can contribute to the slowing of global warming as well as helping to make our oceans safe.”
Dr Oleg Ishkov
Developing future change makers: Tom Pfefferkorn
It has been really exciting to help build a diverse international enterprise ecosystem.”
Tom Pfefferkorn
Supporting entrepreneurs to transform innovative solutions into scalable ventures is a vital process. Their new ideas have the power to solve 21st-century challenges and make a positive impact on both people and the planet. Dr Tom Pfefferkorn, who undertook an MSc, PG Certificate, and his PhD at Heriot-Watt, and is currently Assistant Professor of Business Performance, is passionate about supporting audacious and clever technology ideas in the fields of Health & Care Technology and Net Zero & Clean Technology and turning them into investable ventures.
Tom explains: “As the Director of the Edinburgh Business School (EBS) Global Incubator, I work with some truly inspirational people who are working to create businesses that will deliver real-world solutions. It has been really exciting to help build a diverse international enterprise ecosystem to incubate innovation, utilising the co-location of the Global Incubator across both our Edinburgh and Dubai campuses to maximise its impact.”
As a serial entrepreneur himself – Tom holds several company directorships and co-founded start-up companies in music production, IT and data analytics, and logistic services – his expertise as a Technology and Manufacturing Readiness (TRL & MRL) auditor and capability consultant underpins the Incubator's capacity to commercialise research outputs, scale-up technology start-ups, and accelerate their sustainable growth.
Over the last decade, Tom has been awarded for excellence in research and practice by various public and private sector bodies. He leads the Business Performance & Capabilities Lab, a practice-led, interdisciplinary research platform, and the EBS postgraduate course on management consultancy. Creating inspiring opportunities for students saw him found the EBS Practice Excellence Network (PEN) organising and coordinating experiential learning and knowledge exchange projects between students, businesses, and research projects while developing and managing a collaborative talent pool. “It is fantastic seeing the enthusiasm, leadership, and professionalism of our students solving real business problems for real business clients,” comments Tom. All of his efforts are key to how the University develops future change agents for future markets.
