Trained Physicist with a specialisation in renewable energy from Carl-von-Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Germany. Has been the Chair for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Research at University of Birmingham since 2012 and leads a group of over 50 academics and PhD students, the largest in the UK and one of the largest worldwide. Director of the Centre of Doctoral Training in Fuel Cells and their Fuels. Previously acted as Programme Manager high temperature fuel cells (SOFC) at Forschungszentrum Jülich, the largest German research campus, from 2002 to 2012, and Coordinator of eight EU research and demonstration projects in SOFC, education, socio-economics, and fuel cell vehicles, as well as a number of national projects. Co-founded engineering consultancy PLANET (Planungsgruppe Energie und Technik) in 1985 as a university spin-out. Involved in R&D in hydrogen, fuel cells and electric vehicles since 1997.