Currently, Tom is Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Catching Light, a renewable technology company specialising in marine and smart living. Formally, an adviser to the Trestle Group Foundation, he chaired the 20:20 Initiative to empower 20,000 women entrepreneurs in emerging economies. Since leaving a corporate career with Waterford Wedgwood Group, Tom has dedicated his time to philanthropic endeavours as well as trade and development initiatives in developing and emerging economies.

Tom has worked with GCEL, a Geneva based think tank working to bring the digital economy and efficient trade practices to countries in North Africa, GCC, and Asia Pacific. He is the founder of Hope and Wood Fund which helps communities build low cost sustainable and eco-friendly schools and shelters to natural disaster-stricken countries.

Tom has also worked with the Prince’s Trust with advising their Traditional Arts brand on market entry strategies in Japan and Taiwan.

Prior, Tom held senior management roles of the Waterford Wedgwood Group in Asia, UK and USA. He was the president and representative director of Waterford Wedgwood, Asia Pacific. In addition, Tom has advised starts up the travel tech space such as Switchfly and Epteca as well as new consumer brands such Haigh & Hastings.

Tom was born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe, educated in the UK and then later Rutger’s University in United States. Tom has masters in ocean engineering and biology. He lives in the UK with his wife and daughter. His personal interests are marine conservation and contemporary ceramic art.