Firefly

James is the founder of Firefly Green Fuels and comes to the table with over 20 years of experience in the biofuels industry. Founding his first company Green Fuels Limited (GFL) in 2003, he has been a significant player within the sustainable fuel sector for much of his career. Since 2003, GFL has supplied equipment for fuel production in more than 80 countries. In 2013 the company received a Royal Warrant to supply biofuels to HRH the Prince of Wales and in 2024 James was awarded an OBE for his services to low carbon fuels. At Firefly James provides overall strategic direction, vision and management and is responsible for investor relations.  

A Cambridge graduate with a PhD in biochemistry, Paul has led large-scale programmes across numerous fields in science and business. Paul has successful track record in establishing, growing and managing businesses, demonstrated perhaps most notably in establishing Watermeadow Medical – a profitable medical communications company that he founded and later sold to leading healthcare service provider UDG Healthcare. Since 2013 he has been applying portfolio-based innovations at Green Fuels Research and is a founder of Firefly. At Firefly Green Fuels Paul provides strategic direction, oversight and delivery of the company. 

Rob has a Masters in Astrophysics and is an FCA with over 20 years financial experience working with owner managed businesses, scale-ups and multinationals. Since 2016, he has worked exclusively with innovative founders and technologies, helping fund and scale impact-driven companies with recent successes in both the aviation and wastewater sectors. Rob is responsible for all things financial at Firefly, providing the economic fuel for the technology to take flight.

Catherine comes with 20 years’ experience leading successful start-ups and scaleups, as well as working in large corporates across energy, law, accountancy, governance, finance and marketing.

Her expertise is in helping mission driven organisations to achieve their ambitious growth plans, whilst achieving external recognition for product development and service delivery.

Sérgio graduated with a PhD in Chemistry and has more than 17 years of academic and industrial experience in the development and optimisation of sustainable chemical catalysed processes and heterogeneous catalysts for conversion of renewable feedstocks, e.g., lignocellulosic biomass, oleochemicals and CO2 into high-value chemicals and advanced biofuels. In his role at Green Fuels Research, Sergio oversees the production and testing of our SAF for Firefly.  

Calum brings with him over ten years of industry experience across Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Oil & Gas and Nuclear sectors.

Having spent the last 4 years within the Sustainable Aviation Fuel space working across various projects and technologies, he has now joined Firefly to share and implement this experience as we work towards our FOAK facility in Harwich.

Chris is a Chartered Process Engineer (MIChemE) with a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and over 15 years’ experience in defining, executing, and delivering complex projects. After a decade working within major EPC organisations, Chris has spent the past five years in fast-growing start-up companies across the environmental sustainability sector.

Successfully delivering projects up to £5bn, from Concept Study through to Fabrication – Chris is focused on delivering projects today whilst building the capabilities required for tomorrow.

Jason founded Uptown Biodiesel in 2007, becoming London’s leading Biodiesel manufacturer and supplying biodiesel to leading customers like Price Waterhouse Cooper’s (PwC). In 2018 he sold his business to Olleco – a large player in the UK catering sector. As UK Managing Director of Green Fuels, Jason now provides Firefly with business insight and commercial delivery.