Tim Minshall

Professor Tim Minshall is Head of the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge and the inaugural Dr John C Taylor Professor of Innovation, specialising in manufacturing systems, innovation strategy and the vital role making things plays in modern life. With over two decades bridging academia, industry and policy, he has taught thousands of students and supported global organisations in building more sustainable and resilient manufacturing capabilities. His recent book, *Your Life Is Manufactured*, explores how manufacturing shapes nearly every aspect of daily existence, making complex industrial topics accessible and relevant to wide audiences. Tim equips leaders, teams and policymakers with practical insights to harness innovation for economic growth, technological advancement and long-term societal benefit.

In 2019, Tim Minshall became the first person ever appointed to a Professorship of Innovation at the University of Cambridge, a role created through the vision of inventor and manufacturer Dr John C Taylor OBE. Today, as Head of the Institute for Manufacturing, he leads programmes that connect academic research with the practical realities of industry and policy, working to make manufacturing more sustainable, resilient and competitive on a global scale. His recent book, *Your Life Is Manufactured*, makes the case that manufacturing shapes nearly every aspect of modern existence, translating complex industrial systems into ideas that resonate far beyond factory walls. Through teaching, research and public engagement, Tim has spent over two decades helping people understand how the things we make define the way we live.

Tim's academic career has been built on collaboration and real-world application. He has taught thousands of students at Cambridge, many of whom now hold influential roles across industry, government and innovation ecosystems worldwide. His work spans innovation management, emerging technologies, and the future of manufacturing skills, with published research that informs both academic debate and practical strategy. Before joining Cambridge, he worked in Japan and Australia across engineering, consultancy and education, later supporting technology start-ups as they developed products and brought them to market. This combination of hands-on experience and rigorous scholarship allows him to speak with authority on how manufacturing and innovation intersect with economic growth, technological change and societal challenges. He also contributes to national and international policy development, regularly convening engineers, business leaders, educators and policymakers to explore how innovation can deliver long-term benefit.

Tim's speaking engagements offer audiences practical frameworks for understanding how manufacturing drives progress and resilience in an uncertain world. Whether addressing corporate leaders, educators or policymakers, he makes complex topics accessible and actionable, helping organisations rethink their approach to innovation, skills and sustainability. His clear, engaging style ensures that participants leave with fresh perspectives and tangible strategies they can apply immediately. By connecting the dots between what we make, how we make it, and why it matters, Tim equips audiences to harness manufacturing and innovation as tools for competitive advantage, technological advancement and meaningful societal impact.