About Us

Adrian read History at Cambridge, and then joined Arthur Andersen (gaining his ACA qualification). After a short period in South Africa, he worked in a variety of financial roles at Belron International (the parent company of Autoglass) for thirteen years – the last seven, as Group Finance Director of an organisation with a turnover of $1.7bn, over 13,000 employees, and operating across 17 countries.

He subsequently worked for two Family businesses, handling FD, CEO, and Chairman type roles across a number of non-synergistic operations and countries. For the last several years, he has operated in a consultancy capacity, working on projects of his choosing. His skills cover fund raising, acquisitions and disposals, and strategy formulation. Adrian is married, lives in Ascot, Berkshire, and has three grown up children. He still actively participates in sports, but of a gentler persuasion – golf, skiing (both water and snow), running – and regularly visits the Principality Stadium in Cardiff to watch the Welsh Rugby Team.

Gillian Marshall is CEO of the Alpha Trust which was formed in April 2018. She is also Executive Principal of Colchester County High School for Girls (CCHSG). The Gilberd School and Manningtree High School are the other founding schools alongside CCHSG. Home Farm Primary school joined in 2020. CCHSG is the lead school for the Colchester Teacher Training Consortium (CTTC).

The Trust designed the new Trinity Free School which opened on its own site in September 2023, this is a through school and will incorporate a primary element in the future. Gillian has been a Principal for 14 years and a CEO for 6 years. She has taught at a range of schools including comprehensives, Christian ecumenical and a boy’s school. She was Head of Science at Townley Grammar School in Bexleyheath and has a keen interest in biochemistry and health. Gillian’s hobbies include sport, music, travel, going to the gym and swimming.

Gillian studied at a number of universities including Durham and Cambridge. Her qualifications include the NPQH, BSc (Biochemistry), MSc (Molecular Organisation) and a master’s degree in business administration. Gillian is a National Leader of Education. She has extensive experience of expansion and raising achievement in a wide range of schools.

Leaving Colfe’s School in 1962 at the age of 16, Michael was commissioned into the Royal Air Force seven years later as a professional entrant, having in the meantime gained an HND in Business Studies whilst earning his living as a rock and jazz drummer, and working with young people in the East End of London via the Air Training Corps. Thereafter, he undertook a diversity of appointments which included being a senior executive in the field with responsibility for 3,000 people; and a tutor at both the RAF College and the RAF Staff College, the latter of which he is an Advanced Staff Course graduate.

As a military Legal, Finance and HR Director some of his more unusual professional involvement included alcoholism, blackmail, cryptography, drug addiction, espionage, extreme violence, family bereavement, fraud, infant mortality, rape, state honours & awards, suicide and terminal illness. Michael has chaired or advised many Boards of Inquiry into fatal accidents and serious incidents, and sat as a member of over 30 Courts Martial.

Deciding to leave the Military after only 20 years, having been tempted into management consultancy, his Service career culminated as an adviser to the UK Deputy Chief of Defence Staffs and appropriate Ministers on personnel and financial issues for 330,000 regular & reserve military personnel, plus the senior Civil Service, the senior Judiciary and NHS Consultants.

Michael commenced his business career with P-E International where he worked with company Boards across many UK industry sectors. In 1993 he founded Griffonage specialising in executive & NED search, adding coaching in 2006. Focusing on aerospace, defence and Formula 1/Le Mans motorsport he conducted over 10,000 hours of interviewing, coaching, facilitation and consultancy at Board and senior executive level, primarily in the UK and USA, but also in Continental Europe, China and Singapore. Typical clients ranged from such SMEs as Cosworth, Lola and Quadrics Supercomputers, through large companies such as Cobham, GKN, Jaguar F1 and Serco, to global corporations such as CAE, Raytheon and Rolls-Royce.

Realising the value of Griffonage in 2012, he undertook a period as a Visiting Professor. At the same time, for two years he was a mentor to a senior member of the Royal Household via the IOD programme ‘Develop a Director’. Then, in 2015, with three senior international directors, he embarked on a business venture entitled Experience Tells Ltd working with the Boards of SMEs to large companies in the manufacturing and service sectors, especially those concerned with aerospace & defence. He is now retired from fee-paying business.

In anticipation of that retirement, in 2019 Michael commenced the creation and development of a UK-wide youth engagement programme the aim of which was, and remains, to encourage the interest of young people in technology generally and, specifically, provide them with a permanent careers advisory and support service in respect of the aerospace, space and aviation industries. Michael converted the programme into a charity (#1190721) in 2020 which, in 2023, was re-named ‘The Schools’ Aerospace Careers Programme’; he is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Michael holds a Professional Doctorate in Senior Executive Coaching & Team Learning, and an MA in Business Coaching. Until its disbandment in 2016, Michael was a member of the Court of Cranfield University for seven years. In addition, he is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce; and for over 25 years a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, and the Chartered Institute of Management. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.

Additionally, he is a Liveryman (and therefore Freeman) of the City of London, and the 2018/19 Master of the City Livery Company – The Fan Makers. He remains a member of the company’s Court. He is a member of the RAF Club and, for 20 years, a member of the Honourable Artillery Company and the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers. He was the initiator of the affiliation of the City of London with II (AC) Squadron RAF of which he is an Honorary Member. For a set three-year term Michael was a Trustee of three City-based charitable funds. He is a guest speaker with Speakers for Schools.

Alongside his professional life Michael has, since his late 20’s until his early 70’s, organised and managed a host of ‘events’ ranging from public Air Shows to City of London Mansion House Banquets and Royal events. Such experiences and expertise gained are now solely directed towards SACP Presentations and Network events.

Christopher Smith has more than twenty years of auditing experience and is a senior audit partner with Grant Thornton UK LLP, as such, he is the firm’s National Head of Audit Technical and Head of the firm’s Financial Reporting Advisory Group in London.

Working with a mixture of private and listed clients (London Full List, AiM and TSX) in the UK and internationally he has considerable experience of working in various jurisdictions and advising on accounting matters affecting different countries and sectors.  Christopher is also a key member of the firm’s UK and global mining team with considerable experience of the oil, gas and mining sectors.

Rikke Carmichael is a bilingual aviation leader with over 30 years’ experience across helicopter operations, defence, infrastructure, and unmanned systems. A commercial helicopter pilot and instructor with a Master’s in Aviation Management, she has led aviation businesses, training organisations, and complex operational teams in both the UK and US.

As Head of Air Operations at Network Rail, she served as Technical Authority and Accountable Manager, building a dedicated aviation team, doubling the helicopter fleet, and expanding drone operations to more than 200 pilots and 400 UAVs. She delivered the organisation’s aerial data strategy, led its first BVLOS proof‑of‑concept flight, implemented the UK’s first rail‑wide digital Flight Management System, and increased drone activity by 700%. Her work influenced government policy through the Drone Industry Action Group and contributed to Flightpath to the Future.

Previously at Boeing Defence UK, Rikke led major defence training campaigns, delivered UAV training to the Royal Navy, and supported international surveillance aircraft programmes. Her early career includes helicopter instruction, aviation business management, and roles across US and Scandinavian aviation organisations.

She now runs Consultavia Ltd, advising government and industry on tenders, operational insight, compliance, and future aviation capability, with clients spanning both public and private sectors.

Chris is a highly qualified systems manager with 15 years experience in a variety of UK data integration projects. He commenced his career as a QA Auditor and progressed from there to ISO QA Systems & Process Manager for Government, oil & gas, rail and civil engineering projects. His relevant qualifications are legion and read like an alphabet: HMG Infosec; ISO; CAA RPAS; HSE; NEBOSH and LRQA.

In 2015 Chris entered a new phase of his career when he established a UK Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) service for the film, TV, agriculture and surveying industries. As a CAA Recognised Assessment Entity uncrewed aircraft systems pilot assessor he now certifies remote pilots in respect of UK RPAS Open A2 and Specific Categories operations. In doing so he has established the UK’s first online CAA uncrewed aircraft systems training course and, employing Virtual Reality technology, provides instruction and mentoring for UAS pilots all over the world. Continuing to develop these systems, new components will be released in 2023 and 2024.

Not surprisingly the linked training aids are proving very popular with students during the SACP schools’ presentations. Furthermore, when employed as such Chris continues to foster the UK RPAS/Aviation industry’s future by advocating it amongst each generation of young people. With these capabilities, his personal enthusiasm, and his company’s ability to produce video and associated sound from filming through editing to final production, Chris has committed himself to the aim of the SACP as the Programme’s lead videographer.

Emma is an experienced and dedicated teacher having been a member of the profession for 15 years. Starting as a teaching assistant, she trained in-school whilst successfully studying for a BEd (Hons) degree. Since qualifying Emma has taught in several schools, with a particular emphasis on English. In doing so she has made a significant impact on students’ learning journeys whilst continuing to hone her teaching skills. This experience has enabled her to help countless students develop strong reading and language skills. So much so that, whilst teaching full-time she was offered the appointment of Head of English.

However, when her daughter was born in 2018 she decided to move to part-time teaching and, with a commercial company, part-time administration. These experiences and skills, coupled with her understanding of young people, her strong communicative ability, focus on detail and excellent work ethic attracted the SACP Trustees to approach her in respect of joining their support team as SACP Administrator. This she did at the beginning of 2023

Spot is a highly agile and versatile quadruped robot developed by Boston Dynamics. It is designed to navigate a variety of terrains, both indoors and outdoors, using multiple sensors and three motors in each leg to maintain balance and adapt to different environments. Spot’s key features are as follows:

Mobility: Spot can move across rough terrain, climb stairs, and even get back up again if he falls over.

Autonomy: Spot can be operated manually via remote control, or autonomously using his perception and guidance systems to follow predefined routes.

Payload: Spot can carry up to 14 kg of equipment and sensors.

Applications

Inspection and Monitoring: Spot can autonomously inspect industrial sites, construction areas, and energy facilities. It can read gauges, listen for noise anomalies, and capture visual, thermal, and acoustic data.

Data Collection: Spot is used for collecting data in hazardous environments, helping to create digital twins of facilities and monitor site health.

Security and Surveillance: Spot can patrol areas, providing real-time video feeds and alerting operators to potential security issues.

Remote Operations: Spot can be controlled remotely, making it useful for tasks in dangerous or hard-to-reach areas.

Research and Development: Spot serves as a flexible platform for academic and industrial research, allowing for the development of new applications and technologies.

Delivery and Manipulation: With the Spot Arm, it can open doors, pick up objects, and perform other manipulation tasks.

Regarding the SACP, Spot is referred to as male and plays an important role within the Roadshow Presentation team not only demonstrating his versatile maneuverability but also, with the aid of AI and voice, answering any questions the audiences may wish to ask – and doing so in the language of the questioner!

Mike has extensive experience in conceptualising, building, and optimising digital infrastructures for a wide range of businesses and organisations, specialising in website creation, implementation, and expansion. After years working as a freelancer across the United States and Spain, he is now based once more in the United Kingdom as the Director of DevelopMyWeb Ltd, where he leads the delivery of bespoke digital solutions for his clients.

In addition to his accomplishments in the digital domain, Mike holds a Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL) with multiple endorsements. Moreover, he is presently engaged in acquiring the ATPL theory certification, a testament to his commitment to venture into advanced aviation pursuits, including flight instruction.

Ogi aka OgiWorlds is an internationally exhibited immersive media artist, VR practitioner, and digital worldbuilder working at the intersection of creativity and technology. With over a decade of experience in motion design, 3D, and virtual environments, Ogi’s work explores how emerging technologies such as VR/AR, AI, and blockchain can expand human imagination and inspire new ways of thinking.

He has delivered talks, masterclasses, and workshops to a wide range of audiences, helping students, artists, and professionals engage with immersive storytelling and spatial computing. His projects include interactive VR worlds, AI-driven digital characters, and metaverse builds that push creative and technical boundaries.

As part of the SACP team, Ogi brings his experience in VR design, immersive storytelling, and creative technology to inspire the next generation. He showcases how spatial design tools can open new pathways into aerospace, engineering, and digital careers, while encouraging students to see creativity and technology as powerful partners in shaping the future.