Award Winning Paper Treatment Technology

Fanya Ismail, the founder of SGMA, is an entrepreneur, with expertise that span the chemistry, business and legal sector.

Using her expertise from each sector she built SGMA, an advanced chemical company focusing on the development of sol-gel technology, delivering solutions to sustainability problems.

Fanya graduated from UMIST which is currently part of the University of Manchester with a PhD in Chemistry, having been awarded a prestigious scholarship from the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2000. In 1999 Fanya also obtained an MSc in Physical Chemistry from the University of Manchester.

Fanya then went on to work as a Research Scientist at Queen Mary’s University and at the University of Manchester. She has also been a lecturer at the School of Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences at Kingston University.

Her business career started as the Director of a legal consultancy, where for 6 years she supported businesses that wished to invest internationally. Since 2015 Fanya returned to her true vocation in advanced materials, undertaking research & development and commercialisation, before launching SGMA in Feb 2017.

David is the Chief Technology Officer for SGMA, an advanced chemical company focusing on development of sol-gel technology solution to sustainability problems. He has recently retired after 38 years with ExxonMobil Chemical working in the Petrochemical industry.

He has held executive management positions in Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales, Product Development and Project management, many of these outside the UK. As a senior manager in a company with a strong reputation for technology leadership in its industry, he has led multiple teams responsible for the commercialisation of new products for the packaging, construction, and automotive industries.

David is a British citizen and holds a BA in Chemistry from Oxford University.

Don is a Technical Operations Manager for SGMA, an advanced chemical company focusing on development of sol-gel technology solution to sustainability problems

Previously an Avionics Electronics Engineer at BAE Systems for 40 years. Worked in the defence and civil Avionics industry. Experience in Engineering, Production, Finance, Marketing and Sales.

Helen has a wealth of experience within the commercialisation of products and services, having worked with the top 5 pharmaceutical companies during her time at IMS, supporting, and creating launch programmes for global drug launches. Working with Astra Zeneca, Novartis, Sanofi etc.

Over recent times Helen has worked with SME businesses supporting growth and funding opportunities to allow the business to evolve, creating strategic planning to increase turnover/revenue streams.

Previously working within the packaging industry in the fibre packaging arena (solid board/corrugated and moulded pulp).

Leah holds a Masters degree in Physics from the University of Bath specialising in Condensed Matter and Materials.

She has experience working in a variety of research labs internationally and more recently at global cosmetics manufacturer Coty on the process development and industrial scale up of new formulae.

Ben is a Development Chemist for SGMA, an advanced chemical company focusing on development of sol-gel technology solution to sustainability problems. Ben has a Masters in Chemistry from the University of Birmingham and previously worked with the Dove Research group specialising in polymers, chemical upcycling and synthesis.