LLEP AGM guest speakers announced

Two guest speakers have been confirmed for the LLEP AGM, which is due to take place on 29 June. The topic of their presentation will be “Future Low Carbon mobility and Mira Technology Park”. This will expand on some of the technology which is the focus of investment in R&D at Mira and how this drives the growth of Mira Technology Park, one of the UK’s leading Enterprise Zones.

Andy Macdonald – Development Director, MIRA Technology Park 

Andy Macdonald is a chartered surveyor and has an established track record with over 30 years in the property development industry in both delivery of major development projects and managing commercial development businesses.  Having held senior management positions in a number of international listed property companies, Andy joined MIRA in 2010 to lead the £450M MIRA Technology Park development, which will comprise 4.25Msqft on completion and is recognised as one of the UK’s leading Enterprise Zones.   

Andy gained qualifications from Loughborough University, Penn State University and Cambridge University holding a masters degree in Land Economy before starting a career in surveying and commercial property development. He has led regeneration projects throughout the UK and delivered major town and city centre retail, commercial and mixed-use developments. With the purchase by Multiplex of Stannifer Developments in 2004, he became their head of regeneration and latterly Managing Director of Multiplex Developments and led one of the UKs largest regeneration projects in Brent Cross Cricklewood, which secured a planning consent for 14 million square feet in 2010. Andy was latterly Head of Development at Stockland, one of Australia’s largest diversified property groups and a top 50 ASX company, managing their UK property development business.  

Andy is also an ex-Scotland and Barbarians rugby International, an accomplished after-dinner speaker and co-founder of the Duchenne DashMAX cycle event which has raised over £1M for the children’s charity Duchenne UK.   

Declan Allen – Managing Director, Horiba Mira

 Declan Allen joined MIRA in 2011 as Operations Director bringing with him more than 17 years of operational management experience in the automotive and motorsport sector. He quickly progressed into the role of Chief Operating Officer in 2013 and has most recently taken on the responsibility of Managing Director of HORIBA MIRA, in April 2018.

A mechanical engineer by profession, with a Masters in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from Queens University in Belfast, Declan is an experienced professional with a proven track record in technical facility management, and leading high performance engineering and testing teams.

Prior to joining MIRA, he held a senior role at Mercedes Benz High Performance Engines Ltd, where he was responsible for the assembly and test of engines and kinetic energy recovery systems for a number of leading F1 teams. Previous to this he held senior operational roles with Ricardo in the UK and USA.

In his role as Managing Director, Declan is responsible for developing and implementing the  strategic direction of HORIBA MIRA, continuing the development of its engineering and testing services particularly in new technology areas, ensuring further collaboration with HORIBA in developing test equipment and continuing to expand the business’ international reach through the HORIBA network, particularly in Japan, China, India, Europe and the US.