David Pope:   David has twelve years at Brewin Dolphin Securities Plc in the corporate broking team. During this period David specialised in Leisure and Media investments and led numerous fund raisings and transactions. This more recently led to a corporate finance appointment at a radio business which culminated in the sale of nine radio stations to multiple buyers. David has an MBA from Durham University and is a fellow of The Securities & Investment Institute.

Jonathan Gold:  Jonathan is the founder of Finance Tree. He was also a founding director of NStar in 2003 and left in March 2008 to set up Finance Tree. A specialist on investment readiness, concept and seed finance, Jonathan has a background in business development and of technology with extensive experience of the Japanese market. He has raised over £30m in venture capital and created more than 6 venture funds and worked as a director in several.

Peter Hiscocks: Peter is a fellow founder of Finance Tree. He developed and runs the course programme of NStar Finance and Business our investment readiness programme. He is currently head of Innovation Management at the Judge Business School and is managing several research projects on the success factors for new hi tech business ventures.  Peter is the principal inventor on six patents, is Chairman of one hi tech company and is on the Board of three others: he has achieved two successful exits. He is an active business angel and on the advisory board of a Venture Capital firm.

Iain Stein: Iain is Company Secretary and Financial Controller at Finance Tree, having guided us through our MBO. He is also a director and shareholder of Till Services Limited, the holder of a small property portfolio. Prior to his work with Till Services he part of the management team that disposed of the Brewery to Scottish and Newcastle plc in 2004 (for c. £36m). Recently involved in the MBO (2004) and subsequent disposal (2006) of the "tied estate" of the former Federation Brewery and the establishment and VCT backed funding (£10m) of a managed pub operator, Wear Inns Limited (2007). This followed his position as Finance Director with Federation Brewery in from 1997 (turnover £55m).  With a degree in Economics and Accounting Iain joined Peat Marwick Mitchell 1981. Qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1983 and progressed to Supervising Senior in charge of Audit and tax compliance work. 

Richard Bridges: Richard started his career with British Rail and worked with various companies including Sandersons. From 1977 Richard spent the next 20 year as Financial Director with Lonrho and in 1997 commenced working as a consultant. He is a founder member of the Business Investors Group.

Dr Neil Loxley: Neil is an experienced scientist and business leader who was the driving force in transforming Bede Scientific Instruments into Bede plc. Neil is experienced in growing a business and will be able to share this first-hand knowledge.

Nick Moore: Nick has over 25 years industrial experience, with 15 years at Board and General Manager level. In addition to his industrial experience, Nick spent three years as a consultant with Price Waterhouse Coopers. Nick now works with a small number of SME's providing consultancy and mentoring support.

Tristan Sillars: Tristan is a Chartered Accountant who established his own interim finance and consultancy business in May 2008.  Prior to that, he spent 2 years with KPMG in Newcastle, focussing mainly on transactional due diligence.  His work includes support for a company involved in Mergers & Acquisitions and financing activity, financial modelling and due diligence.

 Alan Holmes: Alan is chairman of WoodHolmes Group, a strategic consultancy with clients in the public and private sectors.  Alan has a strong background in sales, marketing and general management in knowledge based service businesses. Key competencies include facilitating strategy workshops, coaching and one on one mentoring. 

Dr Ann Bowan-Jones: Ann coaches senior players in making breakthroughs in their thinking and in unlocking the talent in their organisations. Her company Awaken has extensive experience in the management of innovation, change and complexity, and in accelerating the development of high-trust and high- performance teams and partnerships.

Heleen Kist: Heleen is Director of Skillcast a company offering strategy consulting and interim management in the areas of growth and innovation policy, management and funding.  Heleen combines a strong background in software, consumer goods and bio-technology commercialisation with experience in blue chip strategy; change management and venture financing.

Colum Smith: Colum has led a non-traditional career path that has included teaching in Japan,  North East Business Development Director for  Eversheds Law firm and setting up Innovation Catalyst Ltd. In 2006 took an executive role with an e-trading start-up company.

 Joanne Thompson: Joanne is a Director of Selling Strategies Limited, and works as an Interim Executive and Business Consultant, specialising in business turnaround, mergers, acquisitions, disposals and change management. She has over 15 years experience with blue chip companies in the IT and outsourcing industries.

Dr Ian Buckley-Golder: Since leaving his role as MD of Products & Systems at AEA Technology, Ian has taken a number of roles in business growth, technology development and leadership. Ian brings expertise in investment funding, technology, intellectual property and corporate governance in a range of technology sectors.

Stuart Thompson: Stuart has more than 20 years' experience in economic and regional development. Over the last decade he has been instrumental in introducing economic development concepts to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. This has particularly been in the field of SME support and development.

Richard Liddle is a Product Designer and lecturer balancing sustainable ideologies and innovation in his practice. Educated at the Royal College of Art under Ron Arad, Richard has worked for various international clients such as the UK Design Council, Tom Dixon, Artemide, Bright House and Schott Glass. In addition to working for individual clients he has taken various teaching roles and founded 'Cohda Design' in 2007.