MEET
THE TEAM
The AUG team works closely with the universities, Government, the Arc’s LEPs, Growth Boards and business, to support the delivery of the Arc’s economic development goals.
Alistair Lomax
Director, Arc Universities Group

For six years prior to joining the Arc Universities Group, as founding Director, Alistair led the Advancement team at the University of Buckingham. Together with Vice-Chancellor, Sir Anthony Seldon, he established the first major drive for the University, raising over £30 million. Alistair has had a varied career as facilitator, charity chief executive and higher education fundraiser, working with the likes of Oxfam, Save the Children International, Refugee Resource, UCL, Imperial College and University College Cork. Alistair is a Trustee of the Aurora Orchestra.
Professor Simon Pollard OBE
Chair, AUG Environment Partnerships Board







Pro-Vice-Chancellor and member of the University Executive, Simon leads Cranfield’s international partnership activities and the School of Water, Energy and Environment. With significant strategic experience, his career spans senior appointments in academia, consulting and government. An environmental engineer and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Simon’s research on risk governance has been funded by the US Water Research Foundation, EPSRC, NERC, BBSRC and Defra. Simon was awarded the OBE in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours list.
Dr Michelle Cain
Technical Coordinator, AUG Environment Partnerships Board







Michelle’s core expertise is in greenhouse gases, air pollution and climate science. Her current research focuses on the role of greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide in limiting global warming, consistent with the Paris Agreement’s temperature goal. Before joining Cranfield in 2020, Dr Cain was a senior researcher at the University of Oxford, where she developed the Oxford Martin Programme on Climate Pollutants which aimed to make climate metrics used in climate policy more fit-for-purpose.
Ceri Evans
Communications Lead







Ceri has 20 years’ experience providing marketing and communications support for a range of public and private sector clients within the built environment sector. Having led UK Marketing for international surveying practices, CBRE and Knight Frank, and at digital communications agency, VU.CITY, Ceri’s varied career enables her to champion the role of the AUG in supporting the economic growth of the Oxford - Cambridge Arc.
Dr Ruth Mallors-Ray OBE FRAeS
Consultant







Dr Ruth Mallors-Ray OBE has joined the AUG as a consultant supporting the development of the Sustainable Aviation agenda. As Director of RMR Consultants, Ruth provides objective assistance to navigate the UK’s innovation landscape. Ruth has worked across multiple sectors to shape and frame proposals that seek to accelerate innovation through collaboration between industry, government and academia. Ruth has held positions as the Chief Operating Officer of the Aerospace Technology Institute and Director of the Aerospace, Aviation and Defence Knowledge Transfer Network to develop a deep understanding of how government and industry work together on innovation agendas. Before moving into aviation, Ruth worked across a range of sectors including professional services, retail, engineering and oil and gas with a focus on change and engagement programmes. Ruth is a Non-Executive Director of KTN and a Trustee of Brooklands Museum.
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