Peter Watson brings many years experience of engineering, both in industry and with links to academia. He was formerly Chairman and Chief Executive of AEA Technology plc, where he was responsible for a turnover of £250 million and 2,500 staff, and he continues to hold a number of non-executive positions.

Educated at the University of Leeds and the University of Waterloo, Canada, Dr Watson started his career with British Railways Research. He moved to GKN and spent 15 years with them, beginning as a manager in the R&D Centre and ending in 1991 as Chairman and Chief Executive of two operating divisions.  He then returned to British Railways and held a number of Board-level posts before leaving to become Chief Executive of AEA Technology in 1994.

Dr Watson is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and was awarded the OBE in 1988.