Business executive David Whelan has been made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Nottingham for his outstanding contribution to the institution.
David, who has led, developed and grown many businesses during a career that spans four decades, has been honoured for the expert guidance and support he has provided to the university and its spin-out companies, during the past 15 years.
The company chairman has in the past been a sounding board to Nottingham Technology Ventures, which facilitates the formation and management of, and investment in, university spin outs.
The entrepreneur is the non-executive chairman of cutting-edge Nottingham venture, Medical Photonics, which is developing new medical devices based on its optical fibre sensing technology. He has also guided The Thinking Pod innovations, which is creating power electronics for electric vehicles, aerospace and industry, through the early stages of their fundraising and commercialisation.
“I am extremely honoured to be made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Nottingham for my contribution over a number of years,” said David. “As someone who spent many years at third level education when I was young, it appears that in the autumn of my career I have returned to my university roots.”
“I would like to thank all those who supported my appointment especially all at Medical Photonics and Nottingham Technology Ventures,” added David.
“And I look forward to being able to help and assist many other Nottingham University spin outs in the not-to-distant future. I will continue to be an ambassador for The University of Nottingham in promoting all its educational and commercial programmes.”
Honorary Fellowships are “senior and eminent appointments” made to people with an industrial/entrepreneurial background, who provide support and bring significant benefit to the university. The appointments may involve giving seminars or lectures and collaboration in research.
David’s skill is to work closely with academics to set up effective companies that can manage the successful commercialisation of ground-breaking technology. His involvement allows the experts to focus on developing the technology, while ensuring governance and administration is maintained to the highest standards.
His expertise includes raising funds through Angel Investors, Venture Capitalists and Private Equity to facilitate business growth; leading and inspiring company board members by encouraging their active participation and involvement, and increasing company turnover, profitability and successfully facilitating exit strategies.
David became the chairman at Medical Photonics in early 2024 and is supporting the commercialisation of the company’s pioneering technology in medical sensors.
“I am delighted that David has been appointed as an Honorary Fellow at the University of Nottingham,” said Stephen Morgan, a director of Medical Photonics and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Nottingham.
“David has a wealth of business experience and has made a valuable contribution to setting up our new spin out. I am sure that this experience will contribute to the University’s ambitions to achieve impact from its world-leading research.”
David’s career has included the successful development and sale of companies engaged in logistics and courier services, as well as leisure, travel and hospitality, prior to his work with the University of Nottingham.
