Dr. Katy Milne has been appointed Chief Research & Technology Officer and Dr. Joe Darlington as Chief Innovation Solutions Officer, as the MTC enters its next phase of growth.
Milne and Darlington will succeed Professor Ken Young, one of MTC’s founders. Together, their roles will bring dedicated leadership to both ends of the innovation journey, helping MTC to turn breakthrough research into industrial impact and support delivery of the UK’s Industrial Strategy.
Milne will lead the organisation’s long-term technology strategy and the pull-through of cutting-edge technologies from academia into industry. Joe will focus on generating nearer-term impact, helping established manufacturers and growing technology companies use innovative processes to expand production and scale their businesses. She commented: “The new knowledge we develop today will underpin the industrial growth of tomorrow. My focus will be on strengthening MTC as an engine for that innovation, connecting emerging technologies with the needs of industry and turning world-class research into production capability that strengthens UK supply chains and creates opportunities for growth.”
Darlington joined MTC through its digital team before progressing into leadership roles across its technical portfolio. His career has focused on applied research and helping businesses of all sizes adopt and scale new technologies. He said: “Great technology only delivers value when industry can put it to work. We want to make it easier for businesses to take that step, whether that’s helping an established manufacturer adopt a new production method, or an ambitious hard-tech start-up turn breakthrough technology into a scalable business. By putting greater focus on scale-up and adoption, we can help more innovation make the journey into industry and deliver greater productivity, competitiveness and growth.”
MTC has also strengthened its Board with the appointment of Professor Tom Rodden as a Non-Executive Director. Professor Rodden is Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Nottingham. Professor Rodden said: “I’m proud to join the MTC Board at a time when strengthening UK manufacturing is increasingly central to the national agenda. MTC has an important role connecting research, technology and industry, and I look forward to helping it to remain at the forefront of innovation and support a more productive, resilient and competitive manufacturing sector.”
The appointments come as MTC continues to expand its capabilities and footprint. At Ansty Park in Coventry, MTC has acquired a new 5,000 square metre facility, renamed the Shilling Building after pioneering engineer Beatrice ‘Tilly’ Shilling. The facility will provide additional capacity to deliver R&D programmes, scale up innovative products for frontier industries and develop new production methods with MTC members and industry partners.
MTC is also growing its presence across the UK. Earlier this month, it opened MTC Training Tyneside at Cobalt Park in North Tyneside, expanding its support for engineering and manufacturing skills in the North East, with capacity expected to grow to more than 100 apprentices a year. In early 2027, MTC’s North West team will relocate to Sci-Tech Daresbury, providing new opportunities for collaboration, capability development and future growth in the Liverpool City Region.
Learn more https://www.the-mtc.org/.
