James Clipson, EU Business Strategy

 

Jim Clipson qualified as a Physical Education and Mathematics teacher in 1970.  He spent the next 8 years in the state sector and additionally studied for an MSc in Applicable Mathematics.   He joined the Royal Navy in 1978 and after initial training at Dartmouth taught electrical apprentices at HMS Collingwood.   He then trained as a meteorological and oceanographic officer joining 814 Naval Air Squadron for service in the South Atlantic in 1982 and embarked in HMS Illustrious.

Jim read for an Oceanographic Master’s Degree at the US Navy Post Graduate in California and served in the towed-array frigate HMS Arethusa as well as at Fleet HQ in Northwood before promotion to Commander in 1989. After the Joint Services Defence College he served as head of oceanographic forecasting in the Mediterranean before two staff appointments, one at the Fleet Air Arm Headquarters and finally at HMS Collingwood, this time as Head of Market Testing.

He worked for BAE Systems for several years and also for the UK Marine Information Council before joining the Natural Environment Research Council.  He was seconded to the DTI for work on the Technology Programme and joined the Technology Strategy Board on its inception in July 2007.  He is responsible for encouraging UK business to engage with European Funding opportunities.  

Jim is a Doctor of Education, a Fellow of the Institute of the Marine Engineering, Science and Technology and a Chartered Marine Technologist.  He is married with 3 adult children and 2 grandchildren.  He is never happier than when watching cricket with a glass of red in his hand or when gently paddling his Canadian canoe along the Avon Valley on the Wiltshire-Somerset border.  He is a keen amateur historian being particularly interested in the Great War and the American Civil War.