The UK Hydrogen Research and Innovation Network (UK-HyRES) is entering a new phase of leadership, marking a significant evolution in its mission to advance hydrogen technologies and support the UK’s transition to Net Zero.
The changes follow the retirement of the programme’s original Founding Director and Principal Investigator, creating an opportunity not only to refresh leadership but to broaden the expertise underpinning the network’s research.
Building on a strong foundation
Since its inception, UK-HyRES has played a central role in coordinating hydrogen research across the UK, bringing together academia, industry and policymakers to accelerate innovation in low-carbon hydrogen and alternative fuels.
The programme was originally led by Professor Tim Mays, whose decades-long contribution to hydrogen research helped secure funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and established UK-HyRES hub as a leading national initiative.
Although stepping back from day-to-day leadership, Professor Mays will continue to support the programme as an Emeritus Professor, ensuring that his extensive experience, spanning over four decades, remains embedded within the network’s strategic direction.
A strengthened leadership team
The transition has enabled UK-HyRES to significantly expand its leadership team.
Professor Chris Brace, Professor of Automotive Propulsion from the University of Bath and Executive Director of IAAPS, is taking the helm as Director & Project Lead. An experienced leader of major research and innovation projects, he brings deep expertise in propulsion systems and strong industry links. His involvement strengthens the programme’s ability to connect fundamental research with real-world applications.
Professor Mi Tian, a leading expert in sustainable hydrogen storage, will serve as co-director and will lead the hydrogen storage and distribution theme. Her appointment reflects the growing importance of storage technologies in enabling the scalable deployment of hydrogen.
Professor Shanwen Tao and Professor Rachael Rothman remain as Co-Directors having provided strong leadership from the inception of UK-HyRES. Shanwen is Professor of Chemical Engineering & Sustainable Processes at the University of Warwick and leads the Alternative Liquid Fuels theme. Rachael is Professor of Sustainable Chemical Engineering at the University of Sheffield and leads the environmental theme.
Expanding expertise across the hydrogen ecosystem
In addition to these senior appointments, UK-HyRES has introduced several new professors, each contributing specialist knowledge across the hydrogen value chain:
- Professor Chris Bowen – a materials scientist from the University of Bath, whose work is critical to developing advanced materials for hydrogen production, storage and use.
- Professor Sam Akehurst – an expert in propulsion systems from the University of Bath, with experience spanning transport and aerospace applications, including liquid hydrogen technologies.
- Professor Marcelle McManus – Professor of Energy and Environmental Engineering at the University of Bath, whose research focuses on sustainable energy systems, industrial decarbonisation, and the societal impacts of Net Zero transitions.
- Dr Alasdair Campbell – who has been involved since the inception of the hub, is Senior Lecturer at the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield, whose research spans process safety (incorporating combustion, explosion and the dispersion of reactive chemicals).
Together, this expanded team brings a broader, more interdisciplinary perspective, spanning materials science, transport, environmental systems and industrial decarbonisation.
From fundamental research to real-world impact
A key theme of the leadership changes is the ambition to ensure that UK-HyRES research remains both scientifically rigorous and practically relevant.
By integrating expertise across disciplines and strengthening links to industry, the network aims to enhance the real-world impact of its work, supporting hydrogen deployment across sectors including transport, industry and domestic energy.
Professor Chris Brace, Director, UK-HyRES, added: “I’m honoured to take on the position of Director of this ambitious research hub. UK-HyRES has already established a strong foundation, building on decades of hydrogen research expertise, and I look forward to supporting the UK-HyRES community as we go further still. The hub provides a powerful platform to bridge the gap between fundamental research and real-world applications. By strengthening our links with industry, we can ensure that innovations in hydrogen propulsion and energy systems translate into practical solutions at scale. This work is vital to support the transition to a sustainable future.”
A broader vision for UK hydrogen innovation
These leadership developments align with the broader mission of UK-HyRES: to act as a national hub for hydrogen research, enabling collaboration and supporting the UK’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
With a strengthened leadership team and expanded expertise, UK-HyRES is well positioned to tackle the complex challenges of hydrogen systems from fundamental science through to infrastructure, policy and societal adoption.