A Bristol company developing sustainable fuel for planes has appointed former RAF officer Dame Sue Gray as its chair. CirculAIRity, which is based on Meriton Street, said the retired Air Marshall would provide "invaluable" guidance as the company grows its operations.
Dame Sue retired from the RAF in 2022 after a 37-year career. She is currently also a non-executive director of the Ƶ Atomic Energy Authority.
Alex Chikhani set up CirculAIRity in 2021 along with entrepreneur friend Jason Sprague and economist Michael Parmar. The business is in the process of bringing synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to the market without impacting the environment.
“I am incredibly proud to join CirculAIRity as chair,” said Dame Sue. “CirculAIRity’s vision aligns perfectly with my passion for innovation and sustainability. The company's practical approach to SAF production is essential for achieving global climate goals. I look forward to working with the talented team to drive forward our shared goals and contributing to its success and making a positive impact on the environment.”
Mr Chikhani, who was named among the most influential chief executives in Britain earlier this year, said Dame Sue's leadership would be "instrumental" as the company expanded.
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"We are delighted to welcome Dame Sue Gray to our team," he said. "Together, we are committed to driving positive change in the aviation industry and creating a sustainable future.
"We have positioned CirculAIRity as the long-term option for aviation as the trusted third-generation SAF producer at scale. The company’s modular approach to SAF production allows for flexibility and efficiency, ensuring commercial competitiveness and wide adoption across the aviation sector, whilst acknowledging many other solutions currently available are not endlessly scalable."
