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Leading scientists, founders, investors, tech leaders and policy experts from California’s science and technology ecosystem have joined Imperial Global USA’s Advisory Council to boost Imperial’s growth and engagement in the Bay Area and beyond.

Chaired by Wendy Tan White, CEO of Intrinsic (Alphabet), the Council met in San Francisco alongside Imperial’s President Professor Hugh Brady and Amanda Wolthuizen, Vice-President for Strategic Engagement and Communications.  

The inaugural meeting marked a significant milestone for Imperial Global USA, the university’s first physical presence in the United States and a central part of its international strategy.  

The Advisory Council will support the development of an innovation and science bridge between London and the San Francisco Bay Area.  

A bridge between global innovation ecosystems 

During the meeting, the Advisory Council underlined that Imperial Global USA represents a major and growing opportunity to act as a bridge between London’s deep research base and the San Francisco Bay Area’s capital, talent and innovation networks. They noted that critical innovation cycles are accelerating across AI and robotics, engineering biology, advanced materials, quantum technologies and space - areas closely aligned with Imperial’s research strengths and innovation pipeline. 

Council members endorsed WestTech London - a new, globally competitive ecosystem for frontier innovation and entrepreneurship, anchored by Imperial’s major science and innovation locations across West London - as the key interface for bridging these innovation ecosystems.  

The Council also discussed the emergence of a new era of hardware-driven innovation, in which AI, frontier computing and high-performance infrastructure are converging with deep science to accelerate breakthroughs in physical and biological systems - from advanced materials and engineering biology to quantum technologies, space and physical AI. Members noted that WestTech London, the School of Convergence Science and Imperial Global USA together provide a unique platform for enabling this convergence through global partnership. 

Chair and members include: 

External members

• Wendy Tan White (Chair), CEO of Intrinsic (Alphabet) 
• Kimberly Budil, Director, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory  
• Rui Costa, President & CEO, Allen Institute  
• Daniel Doulton, CEO & Co‑founder, Solaris Suborbital 
• Ilan Gur, Advisor at ARIA and former inaugural CEO 
• Michael Jewett, Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford  
• Oliver Keown, Founder & CEO, Oath Surgical 
• David Livingston, Chief Strategy Officer, Galvanize Climate  
• Ray Rothrock, venture capitalist and philanthropist 
• Lynn Rothschild, Senior Scientist, NASA Ames 
• Terry Rudolph, CEO & Founder of PsiQuantum and Professor of Quantum Physics at Imperial 
• Dipender Saluja, Partner and Managing Director at Capricorn Investment Group 

Imperial members

• Professor Hugh Brady, President, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ 

• Amanda Wolthuizen, Vice-President, Strategic Engagement and Communications, lmperial College London 

• Professor Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise) at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ 

Meet our Council members on the Imperial Global USA webpages.

Imperial Global USA is also supported by academic leads representing seven diverse themes of science and technology research spanning technology, the environment, space, health and bioengineering. These academic leads will support the development of Imperial Global USA networks and partnerships to develop solutions to critical global challenges. 

During the first meeting, the Advisory Council heard a presentation from Imperial PhD student Tommaso Barba on psychedelics research and its applications in mental health. He has recently completed a Dean's Fund PhD placement at UCSF. 

Professor Hugh Brady, President of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, said: “This is a critical moment for science, and for the institutions that exist to serve it. AI and emerging technologies are transforming what is possible - and Imperial's job is to make sure that transformation is directed at the challenges that matter most. Imperial Global USA is our bridge: for ideas, for capital, for talent, working together on high-impact science.” 

Wendy Tan White, CEO of Intrinsic (Alphabet) and Chair of the Advisory Council said: "I’m touched and honoured to support the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ community globally as Imperial Global USA Chair. I’m proud to be an alumna given the strides the institution has taken over the past 30 years to balance research, innovation and entrepreneurship globally with great integrity.” 

USA engagements 

The inaugural meeting followed a series of engagements across California for Imperial leadership. This included Imperial leadership meeting with British Consul General Paul Rennie at the Consul General’s Residence in Los Angeles. Discussions focused on the mission of Imperial Global USA, opportunities for collaboration - particularly in the space sector - and broader priorities including AI and health, biosecurity and clean energy. The meeting built on Imperial’s involvement in the UK Space Delegation visit earlier in the year.  

The Imperial delegation also attended the Breakthrough Prize Ceremony in Los Angeles – the world’s largest science prize. The event brought together global leaders in science, technology and philanthropy. 

Alumni from across the West Coast were brought together for a special reception hosted at the British Consul General’s Residence in Los Angeles. During the event, Imperial’s President Professor Hugh Brady showcased Imperial’s research excellence, innovation agenda and international strategy. 

The delegation also toured SpaceX, hosted by Imperial alumna Aarti Matthews, Starship Human Landing System Program Manager at SpaceX, underlining the strength of Imperial’s alumni network within leading US science and technology organisations. 

Find out more

For more information on the activities of Imperial Global USA, contact Cole Harry, Programme Director (Imperial Global USA) or follow the  for all the latest news and events. 

Imperial members of staff can apply to the Imperial Global Connect Fund by 19 June for a grant to catalyse and accelerate partnerships with the US.