Executive Chair of West Midlands Health Technologies Cluster
David Kidney
Chair
As Executive Chair of the West Midlands Health Technologies Cluster, David is responsible for its operation as a membership organisation for health technologies businesses in the region. He steers the Cluster as a co-operator, an advocate and a promoter of economic and jobs growth in the sector.
Previously, David was for seven years the Chief Executive of the UK’s Public Health Register, regulating public health professionals. David has also had careers in law and politics.
David was a solicitor in private practice and one-time President of his local Law Society.
David was elected to Parliament in 1997, where he was a DECC Minister, contributing to the UK’s preparations for the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference, delivering the 2 millionth home energy improvement and having responsibility for resilience and skills in the energy sector. David helped establish smoke-free public places and passing into law of the Climate Change Act 2008. He resigned as an unpaid Ministerial aide position when he voted against the Iraq War in 2003.
Adam McGuinness is a health technology specialist and UK Health Program Manager at Plug and Play, a global innovation platform and venture capital firm. He works closely with startups, universities, investors, and corporates to accelerate the development and adoption of transformative health solutions. Actively embedded in the West Midlands health tech ecosystem, Adam plays a pivotal role in connecting the region to Plug and Play’s international network of investors, industry leaders, and subject matter experts.
He leads the strategy, planning, and delivery of high-impact health innovation events, bringing together stakeholders from across the healthcare landscape—including Bupa, Roche, Barclays, IBM, and academic institutions such as the Universities of Birmingham, Aston, and Warwick. Adam is passionate about supporting biotech and health tech startup growth through relationship management, programme design, and venture capital insight.
Before joining Plug and Play, Adam worked at University of Birmingham Enterprise, supporting biotech spinouts and early-stage ventures. He also previously led knowledge transfer initiatives between Aston University’s Optometry department and ophthalmic startup Spectrum Thea. With a strong foundation in scientific research and commercialisation, Adam brings a rare blend of technical insight and ecosystem-building expertise to the innovation space.
Lynn Yap is a strategist, board advisor, and former corporate executive who helps businesses scale through innovation, digital transformation, and responsible AI integration.
She held senior leadership roles at Estée Lauder, Adidas, and AVON, where she led global omnichannel strategies, digital pivots, and innovation partnerships across markets. Her work combined customer insight with operational execution, delivering sustainable growth and measurable ROI.
As Managing Director of The Altruistic Capitalist, Lynn advises founders and leadership teams on embedding AI and emerging technologies into core business strategy—ensuring transformation is commercially sound, inclusive, and people-focused. She speaks on AI and innovation and facilitates workshops and insight-led projects that inform product roadmaps and drive purposeful innovation.
Lynn currently serves as a Non-Executive Director at HUE and Trustee at both the Design & Technology Association and Highbury Fields School. As former Chair of The Southover Partnership, she led a multi-year transformation that improved governance, elevated communications, and strengthened board-executive alignment.
With an MBA from The Wharton School and a Law degree from the University of Nottingham, Lynn combines analytical rigour with creative foresight—supporting organisations through inflection points and helping them build future-ready, human-centred strategies.
Increasing the influence of the Association, driving member engagement and dealing with the major challenges of Covid-19, Brexit and the changing energy situation have been the hallmarks of Ellen Daniel’s leadership of the BCGA (British Compressed Gases Association).
Ellen’s work has included a major digital innovation drive, a focus on STEM and creating new opportunities for inclusivity, as well as progressing BCGA’s major public health campaign on nitrous oxide, which ultimately led to the Government banning the gas in all but essential circumstances last year.
This year (2025) Ellen was named in the Trade Association Forum’s Women In Trade Associations Powerlist, and in Management Today’s 35 Women Under 35.
After securing essential status for the industry and leading discussions with key Government Departments during Covid, Ellen is currently building on this vital work by working on a project to inform Government of the vital role of the sector.
To ensure that BCGA’s reach is still felt across Europe despite Brexit, Ellen was elected the National Association representative on the European Industrial Gases Association’s (EIGA) Board.
This provides BCGA with an opportunity to discuss the key factors surrounding Brexit. Ellen’s contributions to industry on Brexit resulted in her being invited to the Buckingham Palace Garden Party in 2022.
Ellen has also joined the Board of the Trade Association Forum, giving her an opportunity to share best practice and fine-tune corporate governance skills.
Managing Director Network Public Sector and currently Deputy Lord Mayor of Birmingham
Ken Wood
Ken is a highly experienced recruitment consultant, public sector advocate, and former Lord Mayor of Birmingham, with a career spanning over four decades. A Fellow of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, Ken has developed a reputation within public sector recruitment, specialising in local government, housing, and not-for-profit sectors.
Since 2015, Ken has led Network Public Sector Ltd spearheading its mission to provide dedicated recruitment services tailored to the needs of public and third-sector clients. Previously, Ken served as Managing Director of Network Recruitment Partnership, over a period that saw the company experience significant growth.
Alongside his commercial acumen, Ken has served as an elected Birmingham City Councillor since 2008 and was Lord Mayor in 2024–2025. His political career has focused heavily on housing policy, urban development, and education. Notably, Ken has played an active role in large-scale housing developments, advocating for affordable, tenure-blind design and strong planning compliance.
From 2018 to 2024, Ken served as a Non-Executive Director at Acivico Group, contributing to its commercial turnaround and governance improvements.
With deep roots in the built environment, public service, and technical recruitment, Ken brings extensive sector insight and leadership, blending commercial acumen with civic responsibility to deliver real-world impact.
Nicholas has a detailed knowledge of medical devices and medical device development he currently is Engineering Director for an innovative point-of-care diagnostic company working on rapid diagnostic testing equipment for STI diagnosis.
He has detailed knowledge of the medical device development pathway, medical device risk management, verification, and transfer to manufacture.
Having previously held roles leading both internal and external development programs, managing internal engineers and driving company strategy including driving multiple devices forward through development and into manufacture.
Previously he worked as an engineering expert in medical devices with a focus on surgical, parental, and respiratory drug delivery and In-vitro diagnostics (IVD). This included multiple projects, working on, leading, and managing medical device development including extensive time spent working on and managing elements of later stage development programs on combination products and IVD for global MedTech and pharmaceutical firms.
An award-winning engineer, Nichloas holds an MSc in Biomedical Engineering from Imperial College London, has lectured on medical device development and clinical translation, and is a board member of the Biomedical Engineering Division at IMechE.
