Sally Beken

I am currently a Knowledge Transfer Manager – Polymers, having worked in tech transfer for over 15 years and built numerous collaborations and supported companies accessing funding for innovative projects with expert knowledge of polymers.

I was an Innovation Lead at Innovate UK and monitored a portfolio of over 60 projects and co-wrote scope for plastics related competitions.

I hold a degree in Chemistry and a PhD in Polymer Science, while my early research work resulted in a number of scientific papers on polymer modification and pyrolysis, and a book on rubber blends. I have led on EU funded elastomer projects and worked for a Malaysian RTO developing tyre and antivibration compounds.

Business-wise, I hold a number of patents in medical device developments and hundreds of millions of metered dose inhaler units are still being used annually with the elastomer formulation I developed as a response to using less polluting greenhouse gasses as aerosols.

Since the Blue Planet II episode featuring plastics aired, I have been determined to see less plastic waste entering the environment whilst realising the positive benefits of polymers to mitigating climate change and supporting sustainability.

I founded and currently head up the UK Circular Plastics Network and lead on the Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging activity at Innovate UK Business Connect.