The Committee
Trustees and Volunteers for TechSolent
Phil Clark
Phil Clark is the founder of Embedded IT, and offers Commercial Consultancy on the UK Technology Industry to a range of clients (Procurement / Channel Advisory).
He joined TechSolent to try and improve the relationships between Buyers and Sellers of Technology in his local area, with a view longer term to seeing the region prosper as a result.
He has lived just outside Fareham on and off since he was 6 years old, and is currently developing a keen interest in boating having recently passed his Powerboat certifications and hopefully looking to get Skipper qualifications in 2021.
Chris Cooper
Chris is the co-founder of KnowNow Information - a Portsmouth based software innovation company. Specialists in new product design, development and deployment.
A CEng and a social scientist, Chris is a hybrid digital entrepreneur. A smart cities expert, advising communities in the South of England and abroad on how to use information to deliver better places.
Chris joined TechSolent to help the regions digital and tech community have a voice. Passionate about the region, its geography, history, the fantastic business' and academic institutions that make up the South Coast.
Chris lives in Hampshire and can be found refereeing rugby games at the weekend in the winter and mucking about on the water in the summer.
Michael Dunne
Michael Dunne is a Business Doctor, and helps busy business owners measure the strength of their technology business. Then, he'll work with them to create a business strategy, direction and plan in plain English, one that everyone can buy-into and results in quality family time at the weekends.
Michael joined TechSolent to promote the wonderful work the region is doing in using technology to solve hard problems. Michael lives in Winchester, and has done so for 25 years. He is currently wondering if his body will be able to deal with the rigours of restarting Hampshire team squash in 2021!
Geoff Glover
Geoff Glover is an HR professional with a background in the automotive industry. He held global Vice-President, Human Resources, positions with Volvo Car Corporation with responsibilities for Learning and Development, Talent Management and People and Business Strategy Integration. He was based in Gothenburg, Sweden.
He now lectures in Human Resources Management and on a Global MBA programme at Solent University in Southampton. He has also, over the last couple of years undertaken various Human Resources activities for the National Health Service.
Geoff is a founding member of Tech Solent. He founded the organisation with others as he believes that Technological development will be key to the future of society, the economy, and our planet.
He recognised that the Solent Region has an abundance of technology related activity and businesses, but that this is a well-kept secret. Connecting, developing, and promoting the tech community in the Solent would have benefits for the businesses, the region, and individual citizens. This is what TechSolent set out to do.
In addition to founding TechSolent, Geoff was a founding member of Business South, and is the Chair of the Southampton City Council Future of Work Steering Group.
Chris Kaye
Chris Kaye is a director and co-founder of Simply Office 365 that provides consultancy and solutions that enable firms to improve productivity and collaboration using the Microsoft 365 platform.
Chris has lived and worked in the Solent region since 2002 and during this time has transitioned his businesses focus from the City of London to working with firms that are based in the Solent region. During this time, Chris has built and benefited from long-term partnerships with other locally based technology firms.
Chris joined TechSolent to help facilitate the long-term growth in the local technology sector and to increase understanding of the technology local businesses need now and in the future.
David Locke
Dave had a long career at IBM, the majority being spent on two of his passions, the internet of things. (IoT) and infusing innovation into everything we do Since heading into semi-retirement in 2020 he now assists and advises start-ups, community groups and charities.
He first came across TechSolent in the summer of 2019 when presenting at their conference. He then came on board to help drive the vision of growing the wider Solent region into the silicon valley of the south, helping make it an attractive place for talent and investment and for the wider community to enjoy.
John Petch
Jon Petch (JP) is the Sales Director at IoT Solutions Group helping customers improve the services they deliver and save or make money through the adoption of IoT technology.
Jon is a founding member of TechSolent, sharing a view held by the other founders that the Solent region has a thriving tech community, but is a well-kept secret. Our mission is to connect, develop and promote this tech community.
He now lives in West Sussex, and when not working can be found at the gym or day-dreaming about what motorbike to add to the garage.
Emma Stevens
Emma Stevens is a Partner at Coffin Mew LLP specialising in Intellectual Property and Dispute Resolution. She is on Coffin Mew’s Tech Sector and deals with legal issues for a range of tech-based in the Solent region and further afield.
She joined TechSolent initially as a representative of Coffin Mew, one of the founding member organisations, and is keen to continue working with the TechSolent Board and its members in order to promote and develop the local tech community and profile.
Other than a brief stint in Cardiff and Italy for university Emma has always lived in the Solent area; for a number of years she has also been actively involved in the Hampshire East region of Girlguiding.
Paulina Piotrowksi
Paulina works for the economic development team, part of the Growth service of Southampton City Council’s operations hub. Paulina is responsible for building the City’s reputation and capability to meet Council priorities, particularly economic growth. In her work, Paulina is involved with developing a partnership with other agencies, businesses and communities to create a positive environment for investment and development in Southampton. In particular, the focus of her role is to develop and deliver programmes and services to support innovative start-ups and small businesses to survive and grow.
Jon Martin
Jon is a co-founder of JLA Resourcing, a Solent based technology recruitment business who’s mission from day one has been to help organisations secure the very best talent, with a recruitment business they like and trust to perform whilst giving their candidates a high-quality personal service.
Having recruited technology talent in the Solent Area for 15+ years Jon sees the company’s involvement with TechSolent as an opportunity to support and utilise the region’s existing pool of talent to engage and inspire future generations.