Helmut Kessler - General Manager - Europe, CVI Melles Griot

Originating from Germany, Dr. Kessler studied Physics at Hannover University, specializing in both optical coatings and laser spectroscopy and obtaining a PhD in 1995. In the same year, he started work as Coating Design Engineer at what was then Technical Optics Ltd in the Isle of Man. Following a change in ownership of the company he eventually became Sales Manager and, in 2002, General Manager of CVI Technical Optics Ltd, being in charge of CVI Laser LLC’s European business.

Following the acquisition of Melles Griot, Dr. Kessler is now General Manager of CVI Melles Griot Europe, running the Isle of Man operation and the UK sales team on a day-to-day basis and taking overall strategic responsibility for CVI Melles Griot’s European optics business. At the same time, he still takes an active interest in the company’s coating designs and plays an active role in the development of new products and technologies.

Outside CVI Melles Griot, Dr. Kessler takes an active role in the Isle of Man community, being a member of the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce Manufacturing Committee and a committee member of various other clubs and societies. His hobbies include classic cars, classic cameras and photography.

David Klein - Photonics & Informatics, Pera Group

Graduated in Physics and commenced work at Pirelli Cables designing optical fibre telecommunication cables and connectors. Spent the next 10 years at Texas Instruments in engineering, marketing and sales. After sometime working in Electronic distribution was appointed Managing Director of Semelab plc. Now works with Pera Innovation helping companies innovate partly through accessing Regional, National and European grants to assist their research and development programmes.

John Marsh - CTO, Intense & Professor, University of Glasgow

John Marsh is a founder of Intense and also holds the post of Professor of Optoelectronic Systems in the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering at the University of Glasgow.

He is a graduate of the Universities of Cambridge, Liverpool and Sheffield. He moved to the University of Glasgow in 1986, where he established an internationally leading research group addressing linear and nonlinear integrated optoelectronic systems. In particular he developed new integration technologies for photonic integrated circuits based on quantum well devices and quantum well intermixing. He has published or presented more than 420 papers, including 60 invited papers, in international journals and conferences. He holds 13 granted patents.

He is President of the IEEE/Lasers and Electro-Optics Society (IEEE/LEOS) in 2008 and 2009. From 1999 - 2005 he was a member of the Board of Governors of the Society, serving as a Vice-President on two occasions and one term as an elected member. He has been a member of Executive Committee of the IET's Photonics Professional Network since 2001.

He was awarded the 2006 IEEE/LEOS Engineering Achievement Award with Professor Catrina Bryce 'for extensive development and commercialization of quantum well intermixing for photonic devices'. He was also awarded the 2006 IEEE/LEOS Distinguished Service Award 'for major contributions to LEOS governance and for leadership in promoting the development of LEOS as a global society'.