I am the Founder and Director of Coal Face AI, where I help organisations turn artificial intelligence into practical capability rather than theoretical discussion. My work sits at the intersection of operational experience, computer science and applied AI engineering, delivering solutions that solve real problems in industry, defence and critical operations.

Before founding Coal Face AI, I served for over 21 years as a Royal Navy Intelligence Officer, leading intelligence, operations and information teams in demanding, high-pressure environments where decisions carried real-world consequences. That background continues to shape everything I build today. I am passionate about AI that supports people at the point where work actually happens, improving decisions, reducing workload and enhancing safety rather than simply automating tasks for the sake of it.

I hold an MSc in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence, graduating with Distinction. My research focused on AI-assisted maritime search and rescue, developing a novel thermal imaging algorithm capable of detecting people in the water from unmanned aerial systems. The research demonstrated that the approach could accurately identify casualties using real thermal imagery and laid the theoretical foundations for a fully integrated operational system. I am now seeking investment and research partners to productise that work into a deployable capability for commercial shipping, search and rescue organisations, coast guards and defence.

Today my work spans AI strategy, technical architecture, rapid prototyping, agentic AI, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), computer vision, automation, human-centred AI design and secure AI implementation. I enjoy taking complex operational problems and turning them into systems that people can actually trust and use.

Alongside consultancy, I build software products through Coal Face AI. Current projects include intelligent business systems and autonomous AI agents. I work extensively with organisations exploring AI adoption, helping them identify valuable use cases, assess technical feasibility, understand governance and security considerations, and move from ideas to working prototypes. My philosophy is straightforward: AI should create measurable outcomes, integrate with existing ways of working and remain understandable to the people who depend on it.

My interests extend beyond technology into the broader challenge of responsible AI adoption. I enjoy speaking about applied AI, mentoring organisations beginning their AI journey and helping bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and operational reality.

International collaboration is a major focus for me. I regularly work with organisations in both the UK and the United States and am currently establishing a US venture to support the next stage of Coal Face AI’s growth, strengthening partnerships across defence, advanced manufacturing and emerging technology sectors.

At AI4, I’m particularly interested in connecting with organisations working in:

• Applied AI and real-world deployment • Defence and national security • Autonomous systems and robotics • Computer vision and edge AI • Manufacturing and industrial AI • Search and rescue technologies • AI strategy and organisational transformation • Investment and commercial partnerships for deep technology

I always enjoy meeting people who are building genuinely useful technology, tackling difficult operational problems or looking to move promising AI concepts into deployable products. If that sounds like you, I’d be delighted to connect.