Home: Somewhere in North America. Age: Turned sixty literally four years ago. Birthplace: Wales, UK. Profession: Healthcare and precision medicine. Alma mater: University College London (BSc); University of Hertfordshire, UK (PhD). Languages spoken: English, some Portuguese and a sprinkling of Polish.
What’s been your big (or biggest) leap? Emigrating to America from the UK and building a healthcare company from scratch, culminating in a successful exit after ten years. Hobbies: Reading, painting and anything related to seventies culture. Recent travel or adventure: Hiking throughout Hawaii. Last book read: Take Me To Your Leader, by Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Personality profile: Emotionally intelligent, thoughtful and committed to helping others—human and nonhuman alike. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Empathetic. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Absolute trust. What is your greatest joy? Being with my wife and son. What is your guilty pleasure? A classic Cabernet. What natural talent have you neglected? Mentoring the next generation. How do you relieve stress? Treadmill and Peloton.
What three emojis best describe you? 😃🐕🏎️.
What was your first paying job? Motorway construction. What was your favorite college course? Organic chemistry. What movie have you repeatedly watched? Anything starring Jason Statham. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? The first draft of the human genome. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? The rise of the internet. What is your go-to source of news and information? Substack.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Using DNA analysis to guide lifestyle choices, improve health outcomes and predict disease through precision medicine. What change would you like to see in the world? Breaking down social and economic barriers while supporting the underprivileged. What message do you want to send out into the world? Think, speak and act more with your heart than your head. What mega-trend most excites you? The rise of AI.
Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? Steve Jobs. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? An astronaut. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? My dog and parrot. What advice would you give your younger self? Learn to say no much more often. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? Winning the UK National Schoolboy Rugby Seven-a-Side Tournament in 1975.
Personal motto: You will always reach your goals through hard work, compassion and humility. Favorite quote: "Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought" (Albert Szent-Györgyi). Desired epitaph: He had fun while striving to make a difference in the world.
