About Us

James worked as a researcher at the Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating based in Swansea University for more than 10 years. Where he developed a formulation and method for recovering silver from printed electronics. A patent was filed for the technology with the help of the AgorIP and is currently the subject of an Innovate UK ICURe Explore project to determine the commercial potential.

James’ background is in the formulation of novel materials for printing and in the rheological measurement of process materials. He has worked on a number of notable research projects including; Advanced Rheology for Printed Large Area Electronics, Advanced Function Micro & Nano-Materials, which focused on the scale up of technology, and Heated Wearable Technology for Elite Sport, which created bespoke wearables used by British Olympic athletes during training and gold medal British athletes at the Olympic games in Tokyo.

Through the ICURe Explore project, James led the research team to explore the commercial potential of the patented recyclable silver ink technology. Following 3 months of market research and pitching to an expert panel, it was decided that the creation of a spinout company was the best route. James led the team through the ICURe Exploit program and was successful in applying for the ICURe follow on funded and securing Angel Investment. James started as CEO of Ail Arian in August 2024 to continue the journey to creating more sustainable printed electronics.

annah is Chief Marketing Officer at Ail Arian, leading the company’s marketing, communications and brand development. She graduated from Swansea University with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and has experience across both the public and private sectors, including roles in communications and outreach.

Alongside her professional career, Hannah successfully ran her own creative design business, developing skills in design, photography, social media marketing and business management. This combination of creativity, communication and marketing enables her to make complex technologies accessible and engaging to a wider audience.

Hannah also created and runs Ail Arian’s schools outreach programme, helping young people explore electronic waste, sustainability, circularity and printed electronics through practical, hands-on learning.

Ail Arian is currently supporting Hannah through a Diploma in Digital Marketing apprenticeship, alongside her continued professional development through further Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) qualifications.

At Ail Arian, Hannah combines her creative and marketing experience to promote the company’s recyclable conductive inks and smart packaging solutions, communicating its technology, values and ambitions to customers, partners and the wider public.

Laura is the Senior Ink Development Officer at Ail Arian, a forward-thinking company focused on developing innovative and sustainable solutions. Having been with Ail Arian for almost two years, Laura specialises in ink development, printed electronics, and the design and assembly of circuits for smart packaging applications.

With a First-Class Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from Swansea University and an MSc by Research in Materials Engineering, Laura has a strong background in materials development and formulation. Before joining Ail Arian, she worked at the Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating, developing materials and formulations for industrial applications, including corrosion-resistant coatings for offshore marine turbines.

At Ail Arian, Laura works across the development and optimisation of functional inks, as well as the design, prototyping and assembly of printed circuits for smart packaging applications. Her role combines materials science, ink formulation and engineering to develop functional, innovative solutions that can be integrated into new and emerging technologies.

Rachel is Chief Technology Officer at AilArian, overseeing the company’s R&D programmes, from the development of new recyclable inks through to testing, scale up and customer trials. With 10 years of experience in industrial and academic research, her expertise includes coating formulation, dispersion chemistry, rheology and polymer science, with a strong focus on sustainability throughout.

She holds an MSci from the University of Bristol and a PhD in polymer chemistry from the University of Nottingham. Her doctoral research explored new, bio-derived, polymer materials and their application as thermoplastic elastomers and adhesives. This background in sustainable design continues to shape her work at AilArian, where she is focused on improving the environmental performance of printed electronics.

Rachel previously spent four years at the Paint Research Association, working on a wide range of formulation, synthesis and analysis projects across the paints and coatings sector. She joined AilArian in February 2025 as a senior ink development officer before moving into her current role. Outside of work, she enjoys water sports such as paddleboarding and surfing, and watching live music.

Danielle is Ail Arian’s Administrator and Outreach Programme Officer, supporting the day-to-day running of the company alongside the coordination and delivery of its schools outreach programme.

She holds an NVQ in Business and Administration and has a background in office management, as well as further study in Psychology and Counselling at Swansea University. Danielle also has experience running her own business, developing skills across business management, accountancy, market research and marketing.

Passionate about sustainability and the circular economy, Danielle previously designed and produced reusable products during the COVID-19 pandemic, donating hundreds of items to vulnerable individuals.

In her outreach role, Danielle helps introduce pupils to electronic waste, recycling and sustainable innovation. She is also currently learning Welsh to support the delivery of Ail Arian’s programme in Welsh-medium schools and make it more accessible to pupils across Wales.

Ffyon has recently completed an Engineering Doctorate at Swansea University designing high oxygen barrier coatings on recyclable flexible films for food packaging. This research focussed on designing sustainable alternatives to the multilayer flexible films used to package meat, which require high functional properties to extend shelf life and maintain product quality. Throughout the 4 year course she gained experience in coating formulation and characterisation techniques such as rheology, SEM, XPS, FTIR, UV-Vis, and oxygen barrier testing.

Before studying her EngD, Ffyon worked as a new product development engineer at a medical device manufacturer in Swansea for 3 years. Her role included new product design, quality control, and product and process validation.

Ffyon is excited to pair the expertise gained from both academia and industry to develop sustainable products for industrial applications. She is currently involved in optimising the recycling pathways for reusing the ink formulations in our product range.