About Us

Richard Parker, Founder, CEO

Richard is the Founder & CEO of Altitude Angel. He created the company in December 2014, with a singular vision: integrate drones into the airspace, safely, using cloud technology.

An experienced software engineer, Richard has a deep technical background with both software and electrical engineering expertise and is currently training to become a private pilot, too.

Chris Forster, COO

Chris is passionate about both aviation and technology. Chris has a Masters of Engineering degree in Computer Science and Cybernetics and has worked in the technology industry for over 15 years. Prior to Altitude Angel, Chris worked at Microsoft for 10 years where he held consulting and leadership positions, focused on helping enterprise customers deliver their full potential with the right technologies.

Toby Potter, Vice President of Sales & Partnerships

Toby builds and leads sales organisations for innovative software businesses using data to solve complex problems.

From a technical background designing and building analytical solutions for global retail, telecommunications and financial services organisations, Toby founded a marketing analytics business before being acquired by a US software company. After taking leadership positions with Informative and Kognitio in the “Big Data analytics” space, Toby led the EMEA organisation at DataSift, a software company specialising in the analysis of the world’s Social Data, before taking a step into the world of drones leading the EMEA organisation at PrecisionHawk, Inc.

Chris Smith, CFO

Chris Smith is a Scottish Chartered Accountant with 20 years' experience in NED, CFO and Finance Director positions in rapid growth companies, turnarounds and PE-backed transactions. He is a business advisor and mentor and has expertise in fund raising, corporate governance, strategic planning, financial reporting and business modelling. He works on a portfolio basis across a number of sectors including construction services, engineering, electronics, digital technology, software and business services.

Neil Kidd, CTO

Neil has a background in both civilian and military aviation; gaining his pilot licence at the age of 17. He was being trained to “fly properly” by the Royal Air Force when the end of the cold war required him to find a new career in the IT industry; where he has helped some of the largest, and smallest, companies in the world, build complex, secure and very scalable software systems.
He is currently the Chief Technology Officer at Altitude Angel where he is designing and building software systems for the safe integration of autonomous and remote piloted drones into our airspace. Neil is a member of the EU’s and SESAR’s U-Space working groups as well as leading EUROCAE’s UTM Focus Team responsible for developing the technical standards for U-space.

Philip Binks, Head of ATM

Philip has joined the Altitude Angel from NATS (UKs Air Navigation Service provider). At NATS Philip held the position of the RPAS Domain Expert and was the focal point for all RPAS activities. During his time with NATS Philip supported a number of programmes ranging from the Department for Transport’s Pathfinder programme, the drone Industry Action Group, ASTRAEA, and he held a seat on the ICAO RPAS Panel. Working as an Air Traffic Controller in the joint operations room at the Swanwick Centre, Philip brings with him excellent knowledge of ATM procedures, airspace and insight into how drones can be integrated safely into a manned environment.

Mike Gadd, Head of International Regulatory Affairs

Mike has joined Altitude Angel from the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, where he was Policy Lead for UAS, prior to which he held lead roles in the cyber, spaceplane and aircraft certification programs. He has supported many activities with the Department for Transport, EASA, JARUS, EUROCAE, and ICAO, including chairmanship of the RPAS Panel. With a background in system safety, aircraft certification and airworthiness Mike brings a wide range of knowledge and experience of the regulatory systems and processes and how drones can meet the challenge to perform routine BVLOS operations and be safely integrated into the airspace.

Rupert Benbrook, Chief Evangelist

Rupert is Chief Evangelist at Altitude Angel and responsible for inspiring and exciting customers and partners about how drones will positively transform their lives and businesses, enabled by safe and automated drone traffic management. He has over 20 year’s experience in the technology industry, designing and integrating cutting edge technology solutions into businesses, improving safety, efficiency and value for their customers.

Simon Wynn-Mackenzie, Programme Manager

Simon has over 13 years’ experience in supporting and delivering software solutions to the public sector, FTSE 100s and SMEs. Most recently, he oversaw the development, roll-out and support of an NHS system, handling the selection and appointment of over 50,000 medical trainees a year. He also has a passion for the airline industry having working at NATS for 2 years and light aircraft flying. When his head’s not in the sky, he enjoys football, sailing, badminton and really hot curries!

Melanie Taylor, Office Manager

Melanie is our Office Manager and comes to us with over 17 years of experience as an Office Manager. Melanie is responsible for helping us get organised and ensuring we have everything we need to be able to do our job!

James Tolley, Software Engineer

James has been developing software for 15 years. He has produced software for the NHS, including critical data crunchers used in every hospital in the UK as well as risk management suites for global technology companies and nuclear power plants. At home he enjoys board games, tabletop RPGs and films.

Manuel Naranjo, Geospatial Specialist

Manuel is a resourceful and creative Geospatial Specialist with several years of experience. His experience spans across a number of industries including Oil and Gas, Environmental Consultancy, Planning and Transport. When he is not sat at his desk, he enjoys crafts, reading and cooking, he even thinks he’s a good cook…bless him!

Barney Cole, Software Engineer

Barney likes long walks on beaches, and apples and peaches. Past work experience has largely been focused in Financial Technology and CTI. He also spends most of his time being cool, and has won every costume contest he’s entered.

David Marrs, Software Engineer

David has worked in web development for 8 years, touching on a range of technologies through both agency and product work. He recently worked in the Fintech sphere, but also has an interest in digital democracy tools. When he's not wrangling code or chasing after his toddler son, David likes to unwind in front of a good film and would like to proffer a Hello to Jason Isaacs. His claim to fame is a fleeting appearance in John Peel's autobiography.

Puja Sharma, UX Lead

Puja is a big advocate of user centred design process and focuses to produce user friendly products. She is a certified Usability Analyst with her background in visual design, for the past 9 years she has worked within a number of sectors including education, real estate and creative agencies. She is eager to create innovative products that will safely integrate UAVs in shared airspaces. She loves cooking and learns Bollywood dance and Taekwondo in her spare time with her daughter

Alexander Dunn, Software Development Engineer in Test

Alexander spent the first 20 years of his career sharing his passions for Physics and technology with young people as a school teacher. 5 years ago he swapped his life around and now spends his time at work ensuring that our software works as it should whilst bringing up two young boys at home.

Ondrej Martinak, Senior Developer

Ondrej has spent 9 years in software engineering; working in various industries from electronics, embedded systems, financial services, e-commerce platforms and mobile networks. He likes to get his hands on anything from UI to system integrations. When he’s not busy coding, he spends his time in the garage tinkering with anything that has an engine.

Laura Davies, Talent Acquisition Executive

Laura heads up our Talent Acquisition department here at Altitude Angel. Laura joins us with a background in technology recruitment and is responsible for finding the best, most talented and most passionate people to join our ever-growing team! Laura now has the task of growing our team internationally as we continue to define the future of aviation.

Stephen Farmer, Head of Corporate Comms & PR

Stephen is our head of corporate communications & PR who has nearly 20 years’ experience in the fields of communications, PR and publicity. He started his career in comms working for a music PR agency before moving to Jive Records where he promoted acts as diverse as Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Groove Armada and Steps. Since those halcyon days of pop, he’s worked for the BBC extoling the virtues of the TV Licence and national radio station talkSPORT (where the comms highlight’s included the fallout of two high-profile presenter sackings and an on-air fire). His career pinnacle to date hasn’t been the No. 1 records with Britney, but creating the radio station Sausage FM, with the slogan ‘less talk, more pork’ to promote British Sausage Week.

Richard Parker, CEO