Head of Silicon Sands
Blackpool Council

Recently appointed head of Silicon Sands by Blackpool Council, Jamie is driving forward an innovative project to bring high tech infrastructure and jobs to Blackpool and the North West. Blackpool’s coastline is the landing point for new transatlantic fibre optic cables, and new offshore wind farm power cables. This mix of low latency high bandwidth data communication and new renewable power generation makes Blackpool an ideal place for next generation data centres.

Alongside the core infrastructure, Silicon Sands is attempting to bring material associated benefits to the area. These range from associated infrastructure, like developing a heat network in Blackpool, to attempting to develop a tech hub for local entrepreneurs, and creating a cybersecurity and networking centre of excellence through collaboration with local higher education providers Blackpool & Fylde College, and Lancaster and Lancashire Universities.

Jamie is a scientist/engineer by training with a desire to have long-term social impact from his work. Prior to joining Blackpool Council he worked for four years as a battery storage technical advisor, and he has been working in the energy industry for 15 years since a PhD from ETH Zurich and undergraduate from Cambridge University.

 

Speakers