Automobile Division: How we are governed

Operations Director, MIRA Technology Institute

In her role as Operations Director for the MTI, Lisa led on the initial development and the build phase of the organisation and is now responsible for its overall management including building links between partners and industry.

Lisa is a Chartered Engineer who moved into her current role following a 19-year career with HORIBA MIRA. Leading a team of around 30 engineers, Lisa was responsible for large engineering programmes covering several advanced engineering areas with responsibility for project finance, delivery and governance. Lisa is an experienced IMechE mentor supporting individuals through continuous professional development on their path to Chartership. 

During her career, Lisa managed large consortium-funded and commercial programmes including the Urban Vehicle Range (UVR) programme, which saw the rollout of a range of low emission and fuel-efficient prototype vehicles for waste collection applications through Finance Birmingham and Innovate UK.

Lisa is currently chair of the IMechE Automotive Events Programme Committee and has been a Member since 2004. She is also Vice Chair of IMechE Automotive Division Board. She was Treasurer of her local IMechE centre in Coventry for 14 years.

Lisa’s engineering experience commenced with a five-year toolmaking apprenticeship after which she became a technician apprentice with Ivertech/Magnesium Services Ltd, progressing on to become project engineer. While studying for a degree in engineering at Brunel University, Lisa completed an industrial placement at Daewoo. From there, she joined the HORIBA MIRA graduate programme moving through a range of roles from safety integration engineer to programme manager.

Lisa is a STEM ambassador for Warwickshire and has been responsible for setting up Imagineering clubs at local schools and acting as a judge at the finals of the Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair at the NEC in Birmingham. She regularly makes presentations on women in engineering citing her own career as an example of what can be achieved.

Technical Consultant, Zemo Partnership

Andrew works as a technical consultant for the Zemo Partnership, a government-industry partnership, helping accelerate transport to zero emissions. He is involved in projects relating to both CO2 and pollutant emissions reduction, from a wide range of vehicle types.

Prior to joining Zemo in 2019, Andrew spent 33 years working for Ford Motor Company, in both technical and project management roles, mostly related to powertrains and their control systems, specialising in emissions reduction and improving fuel economy. This career included working in both Germany and the USA. Andrew’s final role with Ford was as department manager for development and calibration of small petrol engines, a role which included development of the multi award-winning Ecoboost engine series.

Andrew graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a first class honours degree in mechanical engineering, and subsequently completed an MBA at Henley Management College. Andrew has been a member of the IMechE since 1996 and became a Fellow in 2006.

Solution Leader for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles, HORIBA MIRA

Aaron graduated from Coventry University in 2016 with a First Class Honours in Combined Engineering. With a keen interested in innovation and connected & automated vehicles, Aaron joined as a graduate within the Technical Strategy & Innovation team at Arriva where his main responsibility was to research the CAV industry and deliver a strategy paper which detailed opportunities for utilising the technology within the public transport network.

From here, he moved into the automotive industry as a Project Co-Ordinator for Business Development & Innovation at SAIC Motor UK, where he was instrumental in implementing an innovation process into the business, identifying innovative ideas, and building teams to develop into a proof of concepts.

He then joined Jaguar Land Rover as an Autonomous Vehicle Engineer where he was responsible for defining the customer level requirements and key performance indicators for multiple ADAS & automated driving features using systems engineering processes, supplemented by simulation and modelling techniques.

Currently, he is the Solution Leader for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles at HORIBA MIRA. This role involves developing the Connected & Autonomous Vehicle consultancy service offering and key use cases on the new ASSURED CAV facilities, alongside business development activities and providing thought leadership within the field.

Manager and Programme Leader, Body CAE, Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.

Fred graduated from University of Dublin, Trinity College in 2008 with a First Class Honours MEng.

On graduation his passion for cars led him to join Aston Martin where he has been ever since covering a variety of roles inbody engineering and working on elements of every AM product currently in production.

Fred is currently Manager in Body CAE overseeing new GT platform vehicles, responsible for developing and delivering all body engineering performance targets (crash, stiffness, NVH) through the use of simulation. Fred is also leading the CAE simulation aspect of an R&D project developing a novel composites technology.

David Bryant is an Associate Professor in Automotive Engineering at the University of Bradford and former Head of the Department of Mechanical and Energy Systems Engineering. He holds an MEng (Hons) in Automotive Engineering from the University of Leeds and a PhD from the University of Huddersfield.

His research specialises in vehicle brakes and braking systems, with particular expertise in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and braking instabilities. He has delivered a wide range of collaborative industrial research projects in this field, working closely with industry partners.

Since 2013, David has been Director of the highly regarded Braking of Road Vehicles short course for industry. He is actively involved in the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), currently serving as Vice Chair 2 of the Automobile Division, Vice Chair of the Automobile Division Event Programme Committee, and Immediate Past Chair of the IMechE Automobile Division Yorkshire Centre.

A Senior Test Engineer at UTAC and Co-Chair of SheCanEngineer, Natalia is a visible role model in engineering and an advocate for inclusive workplaces. She supports the engineering community through judging panels, public speaking, and mentoring the next generation. Her work blends technical innovation with a passion for representation and positive change.

Dan is an experienced engineering leader with a career spanning aerospace and automotive sectors, covering manufacturing, programme management, new product introduction, and strategic planning. In his current role as Head of Strategy and Stakeholder Engagement, he drives collaboration across industry to enable technology transitions in the automotive sector covering the transition towards net zero and connected & automated mobility.

Through his work at APC and Zenzic, Daniel brings together stakeholders to collectively solve complex challenges in sustainable transport and future mobility ecosystems. He is passionate about supporting the next generation of engineers, leading STEM outreach activities to inspire future talent. 

Daniel actively contributes to shaping industry direction through his involvement on key boards, including:

• IMechE Automobile Division 
• UK Council for Automotive Academic Research (UKCAAR)
• CAM TestBedUK 
• Hydrogen Innovation Initiative 
• Advanced Integrated Motor Drives

…among others, supporting the advancement of automotive engineering in the UK.

Facilities & Maintenance Manager, Leyland Trucks

Andy works as the Facilities & Maintenance Manager at Leyland Trucks as part of the Operations Management team. He joined the organisation in 2000 after graduating from Loughborough University in 2000 with a BEng (Hons) degree in Mechanical Engineering and has since developed to become an accomplished operations leader with more than 25 years of experience. His career has spanned senior roles across Operations, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, Continuous Improvement and Facilities & Maintenance. Andy has managed numerous, significant Operations projects, ranging from new product industrialisation to major manufacturing facility and process redesigns.
 
Andy led the assembly process readiness aspects of the Euro 6 and New Generation DAF product introductions at Leyland Trucks, has since supported the incorporation of the Battery Electric DAF products into the assembly process and has been instrumental in the procurement of significant capital funding for the Leyland site in order to achieve capacity, facility reliability, sustainability and energy efficiency goals.
 
As a Chartered Engineer and IMechE member, Andy actively promotes professional development and engineering Chartership within the organisation.

Chief Executive – Northern Automotive Alliance

Paul Jones graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Manchester Metropolitan University and has worked in the automotive industry for over 35 years.
 
He spent 12 years with Foden Trucks, in Design & Development, including assignments in UK, USA and the Netherlands; with eventual responsibility for all design and development of new commercial vehicles from 17 – 150 tonnes.
 
In 2000 he joined Bentley Motors, where he held a range of posts including Chief Programme Engineer for the first-generation Continental GT and Product Line Director for all subsequent Continental GT & Flying Spur models.  In 2010 he was promoted to Director of Product Management, with responsibility for all future Bentley product strategy and planning.

Since 2020, he has been Chief Executive of the Northern Automotive Alliance, a regional trade association supporting the automotive supply chain across the North of England.
 
Paul has been a Member of IMechE since 1996, a Fellow since 2001 and is a former Chair of both the Automobile Division and Technical Strategy Board.

Pixton Consulting

Tony Pixton graduated in Automotive Engineering from Loughborough University and has worked in the automotive industry for over 40 years.

He spent 36 years with Ford Motor Company, primarily in Product Development, including assignments in UK, Germany and the US and with Volvo in Sweden. He also spent three years with Mazda in Japan, as a main board member and assistant to the President, with responsibility for Ford/Mazda joint venture businesses. More recently he operated as the CEO of the Advanced Propulsion Centre, a joint industry/government funded NGO. He is now an independent consultant.

Tony's career has included delivery of major award winning product programmes and international operational management in a global manufacturer. He has experience of both technical and business management, including organisational development, change management, strategic planning and governance.

In 2016 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate by Loughborough University for his achievements in the innovation of vehicle and powertrain design.

Tony Pixton has been a member of IMechE since 1986, a Fellow since 2006 and he was a founding member of the Essex Centre of the Automobile Division.

Volunteer – Currently part of the DHSC COVID-19 Swab Testing Supply Chain Team

Steve graduated with a BSc in Production Engineering from the University of Aston in Birmingham and an MSc in Automotive Design Manufacture and Management from the University of Hertfordshire.

Steve is a Fellow of the IMechE, he joined Ford Motor Company as an undergraduate trainee. He worked in manufacturing, progressing into the Product Development group to then work in a number of management roles in body engineering, quality and powertrain. Steve retired from Ford after 36 years which included assignments in Germany and North America. He holds a number of voluntary positions including being member of the Industry Advisory Board for the Automotive Masters program at the Cranfield University, school Chair of Governors and his latest position is to help deliver the government testing program for COVID-19. Steve has been a member of the Essex Centre Automobile Division for the last 10 years.