30 January 2026
PNDC, an industry-focused centre of the University of Strathclyde, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Kershaw as a Visiting Professor. This appointment reflects PNDC’s commitment to working closely with senior industry leaders who bring deep experience across transport, materials and low carbon energy technologies. It also strengthens PNDC’s mission to accelerate whole energy system innovation in partnership with industry.
Professor Will Drury, CEO PNDC, welcomed the appointment, stating:
We are delighted to welcome Ian Kershaw as Visiting Professor at PNDC. His leadership across transport, materials and low carbon energy technologies aligns perfectly with our mission to accelerate whole energy system innovation and his background is highly aligned with the triple-helix model we are so proud of embracing at PNDC. Ian brings exceptional business, organisational, and commercial insight and decades of strategic experience. His contribution will strengthen our partnerships, enhance our programmes and support the delivery of real-world impact for industry and society.
Ian has built a career of more than forty years in engineering, innovation and commercial strategy, holding senior leadership roles across advanced technology sectors. His early career included engineering and management positions at Perkins Engines, Rolls‑Royce & Bentley Motor Cars, and global consultancy groups including Arthur D. Little and Solving Efeso Group (EFESO Management Consultants). In 2004, he joined Ricardo plc as a founding partner of Ricardo Strategic Consulting, later serving as a Board Director of the company’s UK group where he worked with executives to guide companies through growth and technological diversification.
In recent years, Ian has led major programmes across the clean energy and power network sectors, spanning onshore and offshore wind turbine manufacturing, high-voltage grids, distribution transformers, and switchgear. He has driven factory and process optimisation through embedded on-site engineering teams, while strengthening supplier vetting, quality assurance, and cost reduction strategies across complex supply chains. Ian has also supported the development of high-performance electric drives and powertrains for mine-haul trucks, advancing the efficiency and capability of zero-emission heavy industry. In parallel, he has contributed to the growth of a leading high-performance lithium-ion battery company, supporting innovation and operational excellence across the energy storage sector, and building deep, end-to-end expertise across clean energy infrastructure.
He currently serves as Chairman of Biaco Limited, a developer of zero carbon heating, cooling and waste to energy systems built on advanced plasma technology delivering the scale up of next generation low carbon solutions. He is also Chairman of SinterCast AB, a global leader in compacted graphite iron (CGI) technology that enables more efficient and more durable powertrains.
Reflecting on his appointment to PNDC, Professor Ian Kershaw said:
It is an honour to join PNDC in this role. Throughout my career I have been fortunate to work across sectors that are central to the transition to a low carbon future, from advanced transport technologies to new materials and next generation energy systems. PNDC is uniquely positioned to bring these strands together through applied research and industry collaboration. I look forward to supporting the team as we help accelerate innovation that delivers meaningful progress toward net zero.
As Visiting Professor, Kershaw will contribute strategic insight, support industry engagement and help PNDC align its research with practical market need. His experience across transport, materials science and low carbon innovation will help shape future collaborations and ensure PNDC continues to deliver outcomes that benefit industry and society.
PNDC operates as an industry centre of the University of Strathclyde, working at the interface between academic research and industrial application. Professor Kershaw’s appointment reinforces this position, strengthening PNDC’s ability to connect cutting edge research with real world engineering challenges as the United Kingdom progresses toward a net zero energy system.
About PNDC
Proudly part of the University of Strathclyde, PNDC is an industry-facing innovation hub with sites near Cumbernauld and Inchinnan. It focuses on test and validation to accelerate the development of next-generation power networks, decarbonised heat, and decarbonised transport solutions. PNDC provides a real-world environment for de-risking and demonstrating innovations across grid modernisation, digital substations, power electronics, powertrains, and whole energy system integration—supporting the transition to Net Zero.
PNDC bridges the gap between concept and deployment, working alongside network operators, technology providers, and policymakers. As an integral part of the Advanced Net Zero Innovation Centre (ANZIC), it has expanded its capabilities to test, integrate, and de-risk high-power net-zero solutions across transport, heat, and whole energy systems, as well as power electronics, electric machines, and drives.