Tim studied for a BSc in microbiology at the University of Nottingham and gained a PhD in environmental microbiology at the University of Surrey in 1997. He then pursued an academic career as a Research Fellow at the Universities of Portsmouth and Surrey.

By 2001 Tim had developed a more active interest in commercialising science and at this time spun-out his first company in environmental diagnostics. The company developed a patented field-based toxicity test for soil and went on to specialise in the provision of field analytical products and services for international environmental analysis markets. Tim led the company for seven years, taking it through several rounds of investment and towards trade sale in 2008.

Tim joined Isis Innovation Ltd at the University of Oxford in 2008 as a Consultant, focusing on assignments to support start-up teams in the commercialisation of a wide range of technologies from across the world. In July 2009, he secured investment from Hong Kong for Zyoxel Ltd. This business is developing a human tissue testing platform from the University of Oxford for applications in the development of drugs and regenerative cell therapies.

Tim has >20 years of experience in the commercialisation of early stage technologies. He supports a range of UK government science entrepreneurship initiatives in the UK and has provided editorial and oral presentations on the subject to a wide range of audiences across the world. He has been a business mentor for the Princes Trust and advised a diverse range of start-up businesses.