As a consistent innovator and technologist with a strong cyber security background, Professor Adam Beaumont is the Founder and Chairman of trusted communications specialist, aql and CEO of Isle of Man based telecommunications company, BlueWave. He is also the driving force behind establishing both IXLeeds, a fully independent internet exchange outside London and the Isle of Man’s first and only internet exchange, ManxIX. An active angel investor, Adam founded not-for-profit investment platform, NorthInvest which propels co-investment in tech start-ups across the North of the UK.

Adam’s passion for future technology and its positive impact on the economy and society was recognised by the Maserati 100 to which he became a member in 2019. He is also an ex-lecturer at the University of Leeds and supports its students through an awards scheme to promote the next generation scientists and technologists, The Beaumont Awards and offers scholarships for underprivileged students.

As a devoted environmentalist, he is a Trustee of the Eden Project and non-executive board director of Eden Project International Ltd (EPIL). Adam is also the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Estonia championing trade and close relations with the country in Yorkshire and Humber, North East England, Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire and the Isle of Man.

John is responsible, alongside our Chief Technical Architect, for ensuring we follow logical research rigour around our extensive programme of R+D, but also providing an oversight into our environmental credentials and driving to minimise our impact and to create net-positive outcomes for our company both locally and globally, including our initiatives to donate waste datacentre heat to the region to reduce fuel poverty.

An alumnus of Leeds University, he trained as a Chemist and has worked in a hugely diverse skill set spanning dyes and pigments, ink-jet printing, cancer research, lasers and cosmetics.

John tries to challenge the accepted wisdom and can be heard constantly asking the question ‘why?’

When not challenging the world with “why”, John enjoys winning pub quizzes (sometimes), pottery, reading books, watching movies, playing video games and being a general all round geek.