The Silicon South West Team

Simon Bond, MD

Simon Bond is CEO & Founder of the Silicon South West network which promotes the region’s electronics design cluster particularly around start-ups. He works as Director of Innovation and Networks at Bath Ventures, the University of Bath’s IP commercialisation group and is a founder member of the SETsquared business incubation team in partnership with the universities of Bristol, Southampton and Surrey.

Simon also runs the openMIC – the Mobile Innovation Camp network for application developers; the Assisted Living Action Network for assisted living technology developers; and is Vice Chair of the Low Carbon South West network which is focused on the development of new low carbon businesses; Prior to joining the University of Bath he worked for 18 years as a communications & public affairs professional with companies including AT&T, BT, Huawei, Marconi, NYNEX, Lucent Technologies, & Telewest and was founder of the broadcast TV start-up City Television.

Email: simon.bond@siliconsouthwest.co.uk

Tel: 01225 388682

Nick Flaherty, Editorial Director

Nick Flaherty is a Bristol-based freelance technology writer, analyst and consultant who has covered the semiconductor and electronics markets for over 20 years. A key claim to fame was the phrase ‘Silicon Gorge’ first used in print in an interview with Simon Knowles on the SouthWest phenomenon.

He writes the Startup Blog for Electronics Weekly and blogs at The Embedded Blog and Portable Multimedia

He has worked for Electronics Times and Electronic Engineering, edited MicroTechnology Europe and Electronic Product Design and started Automotive Electronics, as well as writing for many multinational semiconductor companies. He has written analyst reports on digital TV and personal video recorders, as well as contributing to the NESTA report on the SW electronics industry, Chips With Everything.

He is also a member of the SouthWest Microelectronics Leadership Group.

Email: nick.flaherty@siliconsouthwest.co.uk

Tel: 07710 236368

Surendra Kaushik

Director – Silicon South West Labs

SSW Labs director Surendra Kaushik

Surendra Kaushik is the volunteer director supporting the Silicon South West Labs initiative.

He has over thirty years of hands-on experience in the field of electronics. He graduated in solid-state and microwave electronics and has been in UK electronics industry covering design, development, test and approvals of computer, control and communication systems including analogue through to IP switching / routing.

He has worked for various companies including Plessey, GEC, Sigma, Dialatron, Triton and Alcatel.

Email: Surendra.Kaushik@siliconsouthwest.co.uk

Tel: 01225 388 711

Pinar Turgut-Onions

Networks Events Co-ordinator

Pinar is Silicon South West Network Events Co-ordinator who has been part of the Innovation Team working in the SETsquared Innovation Centre in Bath since April 2008.

Pinar also co-ordinates the openMIC: Mobile Innovation Camp and Assisted Living Action Network Events as well as being the main contact for the Conferencing @the Innovation Centre.

Email: p.turgut-onions@siliconsouthwest.co.uk

Tel: 012253 88639