The Right People
Meet the senior team leading Smytec across science, engineering, commercial strategy, business development, and operations.
C-executives
Dr. Alexander Smyth
CEO
Founder of Smytec and multi-disciplinary physicist specialising in non-contact, non-destructive forensic evidence recovery.
Alex is a multi-disciplinary physicist with two master’s degrees in Atmospheric Physics and Oceanography. He completed his PhD at the University of Leicester, where he transitioned into forensic science, exploring how applications from atmospheric and space research could address underdeveloped areas in the field. His work focused particularly on the recovery of fingermarks from post-blast IED incidents.
Over the past decade, Alex has built an extensive international network across policing, forensic, and defence sectors, working with organisations ranging from government agencies to local police forces worldwide. He has presented at numerous high-profile conferences, including delivering keynote presentations.
Alex founded Smytec to develop advanced, non-contact, non-destructive technologies for evidence retrieval, including BlindSite. He also provides consultancy, training, and networking support to forensic practitioners, law enforcement agencies, defence organisations, and research institutions.
Outside of work, Alex is a keen football and rugby supporter and enjoys playing tennis and running.
Robert Thompson
CTO
Engineering lead with deep experience in advanced product development, technical delivery, and innovation.
Rob has spent 10 years project managing state-of-the-art engineering and product development in the automotive industry. From early stage strategy development through to launch into production, he has significant technical experience spanning multiple engineering disciplines.
Prior to joining Smytec, Rob worked at Jaguar Land Rover where he delivered projects including the chassis systems for Range Rover and the semi-autonomous driver assistance system for the new Land Rover Defender. As CTO Rob is the engineering lead at Smytec, responsible for the overall technical management and delivery of the company’s projects with a customer focused approach. Rob has a First Class Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Southampton and is APMP qualified in Project Management.
He is a keen squash player and loves to get out on the golf course if the sun is shining.
Board members
Paul Garman
Director, Commercial Operations
Commercial leader with extensive experience in business development, sales management, and forensic innovation.
Paul Garman
Paul has over 25 years business development and sales management experience working at the highest levels within major corporates. His first experience in forensics was in 2005 while working on the national fingerprint database, and in more recent times he has been supporting the market exploitation of disruptive forensics research across the field, from initial university research through to commercial sales. This brought him into contact with the exciting innovations at Smytec where he is now working as Chairman and Commercial Director.
Aside his experience in forensics, Paul has been working on the government ‘Innovation to Commercialisation of University Research’ programme for 5 years and in this capacity brings a wealth of small business knowledge to Smytec. He also has extensive contacts in the defense industry and other industry sectors.
Craig Ireland
Director, Risk & Operations
Risk and operations specialist with international experience across complex projects and operational delivery.
Craig Ireland
Craig has extensive experience in Risk, Operations and Management. Having spent 20 years in the Middle East at ADIA, working on key projects for various international companies as Head of Risk & Operations, he moved back to the UK in 2020. Craig brings this wealth of Risk & Operations knowledge to Smytec, to ensure that as a company we offer the optimal solutions to our customers, with strong confidence and quality.
Dr. Stephen Gallagher
Director, Business Development
Business development professional with expertise across science, software, and strategic growth.
Dr. Stephen Gallagher
Steve is a strong business development professional with expertise in Informatics, Enterprise Software, Databases, and sciences. He obtained a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Warwick. Steve started his own business, Dotmatics, in 2005, which was recently acquired by Insightful Science.
Steve brings a vast array of knowledge and skills in business development to ensure that Smytec continue to offer cutting edge, state-of-the-art technology to our international customers.